Derbyshire Mining Customs and Mineral Courts Act 1852

XXXI Grand Jury. U.K.

From and after the passing of this Act the Grand Jury of the said Soke and Wapentake shall consist of Twelve Men, and the Grand Juries for the united Liberty ofAshford, Tideswell, Peak Forest,andHartington,and for the united Liberty ofStoney MiddletonandEyam,shall also respectively consist of Twelve Men, who shall be summoned from and be competent to act for any Part of the said united Liberties respectively; and the Grand Jury for each of the remaining Manors or Liberties shall also consist of Twelve Men, and all Members of the respective Grand Juries shall be selected by the Barmaster from amongst Persons resident or working within the respective Jurisdictions of the said Great and Small Barmote Courts, and as far as conveniently can be done it shall be the Duty of the Barmaster to select Persons experienced in practical Mining, but a Want of such Experience shall be no Ground of Objection to any Person serving on the Grand Jury if summoned so to do, nor of Exemption from such Service; and at the Second Great Barmote Court which shall be held after the passing of this Act, Six of the Grand Jury to be determined by Lot shall be discharged, and Six new Grand Jurymen substituted; and at every subsequent Great Barmote Court Six of the Grand Jury, being those who have been longest in Office, shall be discharged, and Six new Grand Jurymen shall be substituted in their Stead, so that every Member of the Grand Jury shall serve for a Period extending over the holding of Two Great Barmote Courts; and as often as any of the Grand Jury shall die, or become incompetent to act, the Barmaster shall select another Person in his Place, without waiting for the holding of a Great Barmote Court; and every Member of the Grand Jury shall be sworn in by the Steward as soon as conveniently may be, either at a Great or Small Barmote Court or out of Court, as may be most convenient, but every such Member shall be competent to act immediately upon his Appointment as One of the Grand Jury without waiting for being sworn as aforesaid.