Q: Why have juries been in the news?
A: On 2nd December 2025, justice secretary David Lammy announced plans that juries would be removed from trials in England and Wales for offences carrying likely sentences of less than three years. Part of reforms proposed by Sir Brian Leveson to tackle long delays, Mr Lammy described the plan as “bold”, but “necessary”.
On 28th January 2026, prime minister Sir Keir Starmer said the government continues with the plan. Critics have argued judge-only trials would have a minimal impact on court delays but remove a key democratic safeguard against error, unintended bias and unfairness in the justice system.
Q: What is a jury?
A: A jury is a group of twelve people known as “jurors”, randomly selected and given the task of hearing evidence in court that is presented by both the prosecution and defence during a trial. Collectively, they decide if a defendant is not guilty, or guilty of an offence.
Q: How are jurors selected?
A: The Jury Central Summoning Bureau (JCSB) summons jurors using the electoral registers. Lists of everyone who registered to vote are shared with the His Majesty’s Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) by every local authority in England and Wales, yearly. Each court has a “catchment area” and selection is randomly generated by computer.
Everyone has an equal chance of receiving a summons, and the random element is in place to ensure impartiality and fairness.
Q: What legal responsibilities does a juror have?
A: Each juror takes a legal oath (or affirmation) to decide a verdict based only the evidence they hear in court. They must adhere to the rules and if they do not, they may be found in contempt of court, committing a criminal offence carrying a maximum sentence of two years in prison, a fine, or both.
All the evidence they consider is given in court, together with instructions from the judge to explain the law.
Q: What rules apply to jurors during the trial?
A: A juror:
- must not look for (or pay attention to) any further information about the case from outside the trial, including:
- any person involved, such as the defendant, witness, judge, court or legal teams;
- the crime, or the crime scene;
- any legal terms, the law, or court proceedings; or
- ask another person to look for them.
- during the trial (from their oath until discharge), must only discuss the case with the other 11 jurors on the jury together as a whole group and when there is not risk of anyone else overhearing;
- after the trial, a juror may discuss the case with anyone but they must not discuss what was said, or done, by themselves or any other juror in the room at court where the jury reach its verdict; and
- with the other jurors must act as a group to ensure everyone follows the rules; if a juror thinks a rule has not been followed they must tell the court via the usher, jury officer or a note to the judge.
Q: What happens if a juror does not follow these rules?
A: If a breach happens the trial may be stopped and the jury dismissed. The trial would have to start again with a new jury.
Q: How is a decision reached by a jury?
A: After all the evidence is heard in court, the jurors are asked to “retire” and consider what they have been presented with, along with the judge’s instructions on the law. All jurors must agree together on their decision. If the jury cannot reach a unanimous verdict and a certain length of time passes (at least two hours could be longer in a lengthy case), a judge can direct a “majority verdict” will be accepted, usually of at least ten jurors. Before they retire, a jury is asked to appoint a “foreperson” who will deliver the verdict in the courtroom when it is reached.
Q: Does a jury have to explain the reasons it reached a verdict?
A: No, a jury is not asked to explain how the verdict was reached, and as stated above, must never discuss or reveal their deliberations, even after the case has ended. Juries have a legal right to give their verdict according to their own consciences (or “convictions”); a right established in 1670 and famously displayed on this plaque outside the Old Bailey in central London:
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Kathryn Maintzer is a paralegal in our Crime Department.
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