Power to discharge juror and save trial [April 30; Australia]
May 9th, 2008
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/power-to-discharge-juror-and-save-trial/2008/04/29/1209234862817.html
JUDGES will be given greater powers to discharge individual jurors without having to abort a trial under reforms passed through state cabinet yesterday.
And in a move aimed at heading off a Joh’s Jury-type situation, jurors will be able to complain to judges or the sheriff about the conduct of other jurors to enable troublemakers to be discharged.
Legal counsel will also be given new powers to contest any decision by a judge to discharge a jury in the Criminal Court of Appeal.
The changes are to be introduced in the Jury Act in the next session of Parliament. They are derived from a Law Reform Commission report which also encouraged higher fees for jurors, and called for members of certain protected professions, such as doctors and lawyers, to be expected to serve on juries.
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