Law In Action

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The jury system was introduced in Queensland in 1867 as part of the Queensland Constitution Act. Juries are used in indictable offences in criminal trials. They are mainly used in the District and Supreme Court if the accused pleads guilty. Juries are used to decide the guilt or innocence, of the accused person, based on the facts and evidence provided in court by the Prosecution and Defence Council. The legislation that governs the jury system is the Jury Act 1995 (Queensland). In this particular legislation it tells you the citizen’s obligation to perform jury service, jury districts and rolls, power to excuse from jury service along with many other sections and subsections of other information on jury matters. There are 12 people that make up a jury. They are chosen at random and are called upon to attend jury duty. It is a person’s moral obligation to attend jury duty unless they have a valid reason like work, childcare, financial implications or unless you are; o the Governor o a member of Parliament o a local government mayor or other councillor o a person who is or has been a judge or magistrate (in the State or elsewhere o a person who is or has been a presiding member of the Land and Resources Tribunal o a lawyer actually engaged in legal work o a person who is or has been a police officer (in the State or elsewhere o a detention centre employee o a corrective services officer o a person who is 70 years or more, if the person has not elected to be eligible for jury service o a person who is not able to read or write the English language o a person who has a physical or mental disability that makes the person incapable of effectively performing the functions of a juror o a person who has been convi... ... middle of paper ... ...the jury system is now a greater importance than ver. True justice needs to be served in the correct form. The government should evaluate the justice system themselves and see to it that the community’s voices are heard and that they fix the problem at hand. The truth is that if nothing is done today, the jury system will be an even bigger problem tomorrow. Works Cited “Jury Information” http://www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/lawlink/district_court/ll_districtcourt.nsf/pages/dc_juryinformation (Accessed on the 13th of May 2011) “Jury Act 1995” http://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/LEGISLTN/CURRENT/J/JuryA95.pdf (Accessed on the 13th May 2011) “LEGAL SYSTEM IN JAPAN” http://factsanddetails.com/japan.php?itemid=807&catid=22&subcatid=147# (Accessed on the 17th May 2011) “Lay judge” http://dictionary.sensagent.com/lay+judge/en-en/ (Accessed on the 22nd May 2011)

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