1 Insert title here Victorian Law Reform Commission Jury Empanelment Reference

2 Terms of reference  Peremptory challenges and Crown right to stand aside  Calling of the panel by name or number  Additional jurors  Particular focus on the effects of these processes on jurors

3 VLRC process Consultation paper available 7 October Research including preliminary consultation with lawyers, jury researchers and some judges. This presentation reflects views and issues raised in those consultations, not VLRC views. Consultation and submissions – October-November 2013 Final report due May 2014

4 Peremptory challenges  Available in all jurisdictions in Australia –Number differs - 8/accused in Qld & ACT down to 3/ accused in NSW, SA & WA –Trend to reduce the number over time - justified in terms of cost (smaller jury pool required) and to prohibit ‘jury stacking’ where there are multiple accused.  Abolished in England and Wales in 1988, Scotland in 1995 and Northern Ireland in 2007, but remain in Ireland.  Reviewed as part of broader jury service reviews by law reform commissions in NSW (1986, 2007), Western Australia (2010), Queensland (2011), Northern Territory (2013) and New Zealand (2001) and Ireland (2013).  All reviews found advantages and disadvantages of peremptory challenges, but none recommended abolition.  Some different emphases placed on purpose and value of peremptory challenges eg: LRCWA found that the involvement of the accused was a key reason to retain peremptory challenges, while QLRC found this to be the ‘least persuasive’ argument on the grounds that the challenge is rarely exercised by the accused themselves.

5 Tensions associated with peremptory challenges Jury representativeness –Studies (using a variety of methodologies) generally do not show juries are unrepresentative  Main anomaly found was that jurors tended to be better educated than average for the state –Juries Commissioner’s Office data for indicates there is a gender imbalance in criminal trial juries, but not civil trial juries Criminal trialsCivil trials Attending for jury service51% Excused53% Challenged66%54% Women on juries44%51% Jury selection: women

6 Tensions associated with peremptory challenges Perceptions of justice  Observers often have negative impressions of the process: –Lack of understanding of purpose of challenges –Requirement to ‘parade’ in front of accused (criminal trials only)  ‘catwalk’  intimidating for jurors to walk in front of the accused  challenge before juror ‘takes their seat in the jury box’ - can be like a game –Perception of jury ‘stacking’ where there is a ‘run’ of challenges to jurors with certain characteristics (eg: young women)  not a ‘good look’  Compare LRCWA - ‘peremptory challenges should be retained to make sure that accused persons believe that they have had a fair trial and the accused, the state and the public at large have confidence in the jury system’.

7 Tensions associated with peremptory challenges Stereotypes v evidence-based process  Introduces ‘discrimination’ into jury selection process –However, given the accused liberty is at stake, the opportunity to ‘reduce risk’ through peremptory challenges may be justified  Most defence counsel acknowledge that juries follow instructions and work diligently –Can judicial direction effectively cure biases? –Does dynamic of 12 jurors deliberating dilute particular biases?

8 Alternatives to peremptory challenges  Challenge for cause –Rarely used in Australia –Process not well understood –Usually insufficient information available –Can be resource intensive  Questioning of jurors in special circumstances –Parties can apply to question jurors if there are ‘special reasons’ and further examine based on responses (s 47, Jury Act 1995 (Qld)) –Responses can then be used as a basis to challenge for cause –Used for first time in Patel case  Challenge by consent –Available in Scotland & New Zealand –Sometimes occurs in practice so as not to ‘waste’ a peremptory challenge

9 Calling of panel by name or number VicNSWQldSAWATasACTNT Name or number NumberName or number ‘if security or other reason’ NameNumberName or number ‘if security or other reason’ Name

10 Calling of the panel by name or number  Allowing choice of name or number may give jurors impression that accused is particularly dangerous  Name sometimes used as basis for peremptory challenges  Name as a prompt for recognising prospective juror - particularly important in regional areas  JCO survey 2013 –73% respondents in Melbourne prefer number –52% respondents in regions prefer number

11 Additional jurors  Additional jurors may empanelled as a buffer against juror attrition in long trials –Only empanelled in Victoria in 5% cases –34% balloted off  Jurors who are balloted off usually feel frustrated and angry  May impact on decision-making dynamic

12 Alternatives to balloting off additional jurors  Enlarged jury where additional jurors remain –Unfair to party with burden of proof? –How might larger jury affect deliberation and decision-making?  Reserve jurors – know from the beginning they may not deliberate –Used in Tasmania, Queensland and the Northern Territory  Discharge by consensus  Continuation of trial with reduced jury

13 Contact us VLRC Jury empanelment team Nicole Schlesinger Martin Wimpole T: E: Submissions due 15 November 2013