Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994

Juries

40 Disqualification for jury service of persons on bail in criminal proceedings

(1) A person who is on bail in criminal proceedings shall not be qualified to serve as a juror in the Crown Court.

(2) In this section “bail in criminal proceedings” has the same meaning as in the [1976 c. 63.] Bail Act 1976.

41 Jury service: disabled persons

After section 9A of the [1974 c. 23.] Juries Act 1974 there shall be inserted the following section—

“9B Discharge of summonses to disabled persons only if incapable of acting effectively as a juror

(1) Where it appears to the appropriate officer, in the case of a person attending in pursuance of a summons under this Act, that on account of physical disability there is doubt as to his capacity to act effectively as a juror, the person may be brought before the judge.

(2) The judge shall determine whether or not the person should act as a juror; but he shall affirm the summons unless he is of the opinion that the person will not, on account of his disability, be capable of acting effectively as a juror, in which case he shall discharge the summons.

(3) In this section “the judge” means any judge of the High Court or any Circuit judge or Recorder.”.

42 Jury service: excusal on religious grounds

In Schedule 1 to the Juries Act 1974, in Part III (Persons excusable as of right), after the entry entitled Medical and other similar professions, there shall be inserted the following—

“Members of certain religious bodies

A practising member of a religious society or order the tenets or beliefs of which are incompatible with jury service.”.

43 Separation of jury during consideration of verdict

(1) For section 13 of the [1974 c. 23.] Juries Act 1974 (under which a jury may be allowed to separate at any time before they consider their verdict) there shall be substituted—

“13 Separation

If, on the trial of any person for an offence on indictment, the court thinks fit, it may at any time (whether before or after the jury have been directed to consider their verdict) permit the jury to separate.”.

(2) The amendment made by subsection (1) above shall not have effect in relation to a trial where a direction to the jury to consider their verdict has been given before the commencement of this section.