Review of juries

Proposer
philipjohn
State

Rejected

Vote Score

2

Age

3732 days


@philipjohn edited crime.md - about 10 years ago

published: true

What policies should we adopt to ensure a fair justice system?

Justice

A review will be carried out into the ongoing suitability of juries, especially for complex trials.

Floppy

@Floppy - about 10 years ago

Not quite sure how to read this. Is the suggestion that jury trial might not be a good idea? What's the alternative that still satisfies the 'trial by your peers' thing?

philipjohn

@philipjohn - about 10 years ago

Sorry, yes, that is the suggestion. I've lost the link now but I read something about the disadvantages and whether it's right in a lot of cases. I think it's worth reviewing at least, with a full consultation to get the views of relevant folk - don't think we need to go any further than asking the question.

Floppy

@Floppy - about 10 years ago

This isn't something I've come across before; is there a reputable organisation calling for reform of the system who we can reference, perhaps?

PaulJRobinson

@PaulJRobinson - about 10 years ago

I would have very deep reservations against this move unless, as James suggests above, there is substantial evidence of a better alternative. I know there have been arguments for removing trial by jury in cases of financial fraud because of the low conviction rate and high complexity of the subject matter for lay people to get their heads around, but other than those sorts of exceptions it would take a lot to convince me.

with kind regards, Paul Robinson

about.me/pauljrobinson

On 9 January 2014 15:09, James Smith [email protected] wrote:

This isn't something I've come across before; is there a reputable organisation calling for reform of the system who we can reference, perhaps?

— Reply to this email directly or view it on GitHubhttps://github.com/openpolitics/manifesto/pull/51#issuecomment-31940121 .

philipjohn

@philipjohn - about 10 years ago

Not that I know of, but I will do some research on this and come back to you!

PaulJRobinson

@PaulJRobinson - about 10 years ago

For now I'm ✋ on this

Floppy

@Floppy - almost 10 years ago

I'm a 👎 on this currently, but I could support something that talked about improving jury selection in complex trials, so that people truly are tried by their peers.

philipjohn

@philipjohn - almost 10 years ago

@Floppy That could work. I.e. complex fraud cases having a jury composed mainly of folks what can do numbers and stuff... I'll leave this open for now to remind me to re-work it.

@philipjohn edited crime.md - about 10 years ago

published: true

What policies should we adopt to ensure a fair justice system?

Justice

A review will be carried out into the composition of juries, especially for complex trials.

philipjohn

@philipjohn - almost 10 years ago

Okay, updated wording. That does make more sense I think.

philipjohn

@philipjohn - almost 10 years ago

What do you reckon to this updated wording, @Floppy ?