Chapter 14 – Quiz - Slapper and Kelly's The English Legal System

C14 – Q1

Jury trials account for less than 1% of all criminal trials

TRUE

FALSE

None

C14 – Q2

Under the Juries Act 1974 anyone between the age of 18 and 70 is eligible for jury service provided that they fulfil which of the following criteria?

They have knowledge of the local area

They are registered to vote

They are NOT a member of a political party

None

C14 – Q3

Which of the following statements about juries is TRUE?

Either side may challenge for cause

The judge may discharge any juror, or the whole jury to prevent scandal or the perversion of justice

Once they retire to consider their verdict, jurors may consult with whomever they wish to help make their decision

Majority verdicts are allowed

Juries allow the ordinary citizen to partake in the administration of justice

C14 – Q4

Which of the following are reasons why someone may be excused from jury service?

Age

Residency

Mental disability

Language

Occupations within law (i.e. Barristers and solicitors)

C14 – Q5

Which of the following statements are TRUE?

Prosecution have no right to ask jurors to stand by

All on the electoral register are liable to serve jury service

Service is subject to exemption, excusal and disqualification

Jury vetting is checking that jurors are suitable to hear sensitive cases

Defence and prosecution can challenge for cause

C14 – Q6

Particular concern has been expressed about the average jury’s understanding of complex cases

C14 – Q7

Match up the case with the facts or outcome

The defendant appealed against convictions on the ground that the judge at his trial had permitted new evidence to be put to the jury after it had retired to consider its verdict

The House of Lords held that it was contempt of court for a newspaper to publish disclosures by jurors of what took place in the jury room while they were considering their verdict, unless the publication amounted to no more than a re-publication of facts

Three protestors were charged with committing criminal damage, and another was charged with conspiracy to cause criminal damage, in relation to an attack on Hawk Jet aeroplanes that were about to be sent to Indonesia

The judge made clear beyond doubt that the defendant was guilty, under the Official Secrets Act 1911, of the offence with which he was charged: the jury still returned a not guilty verdict

Attorney General v Associated Newspapers (1994)

R v Arshid Khan (2008)

R v Kronlid (1996)

R v Clive Ponting (1985)

C14 – Q8

In February 1998, the Home Office issued a Green Paper entitled Juries in Serious Fraud Trials. Match the proposals to their meaning

These would be made up of qualified people and might be drawn from a special pool of potential jurors

Specially trained judges, either singly or in a panel, and possibly with the help of lay experts

The judge would hear the evidence and sum up the facts, leaving the jury simply to vote on guilt or innocence

11 of the jury would be selected as normal, but number 12 would be qualified in order to be able to assist the others on complex points

Special juries

Judge-run trials

A special juror

C14 – Q9

The introduction of trial by jury addressed a number of key areas of concern – what are they?

It does justice and decides whether the prosecution has proved its case against the defendant who is on trial

It helps to ensure the independence and quality of the judges

It gives protection against laws which the ordinary man or woman may regard as oppressive

It means that experts are used to help decide the outcome of the case

“It helps to ensure the maintenance of proper behaviour by investigating officers of the defendants in their charge ”

10.

C14 – Q10

10 In which of the following cases did the House of Lords hold that it was contempt of court for a newspaper to publish disclosures by jurors of what took place in the jury room while they were considering their verdict, unless the publication amounted to no more than a restatement of facts already known?

Gregory v UK (1998)

AG v Scotcher (2005)

Attorney General v Associated Newspapers (1994)

Attorney General v Scotcher (2005)

R v Thakrar (2008)

None

11.

C14 – Q11

What age bracket do jury members have to be between?

16-65

16-70

18-65

18-70

None

12.

C14 – Q12

Some people are disqualified from jury service for ten years, other for life

TRUE

FALSE

None

13.

C14 – Q13

If people are called for jury service, under no circumstances can they turn it down

TRUE

FALSE

None

14.

C14 – Q14

The Commission for Racial Equality argues that where a case has a racial dimension and the defendant reasonably believes that he or she cannot recieve a fair trial from an all white jury, then the judge should have the power to order that three of the jurors come from the same ethnic minority

TRUE

FALSE

None

15.

C14 – Q15

Black defendants have a right to have black people sitting in the jury

TRUE

FALSE

None

16.

C14 – Q16

There are the same amount of jurors in both criminal and civil cases

TRUE

FALSE

None

17.

C14 – Q17

Most of the grounds for ineligibility and excusal were removed by the amendments to the Juries Act 1974

TRUE

FALSE

None

18.

C14 – Q18

Most jurors seem to be reasonably happy with the system despite the stress and inconvenience it can impose on them

TRUE

FALSE

None

19.

C14 – Q19

Which piece of legislation removed the list of persons, who could avoid jury service, the list included judges and police officers?

The Equality Act 2006

The Prosecution of Offenders Act 1985

The Juries Act 1974

The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984

The Criminal Justice Act 2003

None

20.

C14 – Q20

What does the term \’jury nobbling\’ mean?

When juries are intimidated into bringing a certain verdict

When a member of a jury communicates with someone other than the judge whilst they retire and make their verdict

When a member of a jury reveals information about deliberations after the trial

When there is a majority verdict

When juries feel that they are not properly informed during the process

None

21.

C14 – Q21

Who made a range of specific recommendations to improve the performance of the jury?

Lord Bingham

Lord Woolf

Professor Zander

Sir Robin Auld

Lord Donaldson

None

22.

C14 – Q22

How is the jury selected?

Through an election

Through a random ballot in open court

Through consideration of individual competencies

Through selection by the Judicial Appointments Committee

Through an application process

None

23.

C14 – Q23

How many jurors are there usually in a criminal case?

None

24.

C14 – Q24

What does the term ‘jury vetting’ mean?

When juries are checked to ensure racial equality

When juries are checked to ensure that they do not hold any extremist views

When juries are checked to ensure that they have a basic knowledge of the law

When juries are checked to discover if they have had a drug or drink problem

It describes the process of selecting juries based on a random ballot

None

Time’s up