Worksheet Week 3: Being a juror (England and Wales) 1) Waiting to be called Watch the video and fill in the blanks Before you're c___________ onto a jury, the jury m___________ will speak to you and show a short video explaining your role, how you came to be chosen, and what happens in a c_____________. When a court is ready to s__________ a jury, a court o_________ will call the names of a group of people from those in the jury w__________ area. These names will have been selected r___________ by computer. Normally 15 people will be called. If you hear your name announced, reply "yes". When all of you have been called a court o___________ will take you to the c______________. Everyone i__________ in the trial will already be in court. The u___________ will give the court c_________ a set of cards with each juror's name. The c___________ will read out 12 names at r__________. If your name is read out, answer "yes" loudly, go to the jury b________ and sit where the u__________ shows you. If your name is not called, you will be s________ back to the w___________ area. Comprehension questions How many people are taken up to court? ______________________________________________________________ How many stay in the courtroom?___________________________________________________________________ Why are more people taken up to court than serve on the jury?_____________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________

2) Being sworn in Say whether the following statements are right of wrong. Justify with a quote. 1. All the fifteen people called have to take an oath. ______________________________________________________________________________________ 2. It is compulsory to take an oath on the bible. ______________________________________________________________________________________ 3. If you know someone in the courtroom you must leave at once. ______________________________________________________________________________________ 4. The case can only be discussed if all jurors are present. ______________________________________________________________________________________ 5. If it lasts more than a day, you can discuss the case at home. ______________________________________________________________________________________

3) Procedures at court Put the following events in their chronological order A. The jurors leave the courtroom to deliberate. B. Witnesses are cross-examined. C. The prosecutor explains the accusations. D. The judge summarises the facts of the case. E. The prosecution and defence representatives make their closing speeches. F. Witnesses are sworn in.

__ __ __ __ __ __

4) Deciding the verdict 1. Where does the jury decide the verdict? a) In the jury box b) In the jury room 2.Who chooses the foreman?

c) In the waiting room d) In the courtroom

1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th

R/W R/W R/W R/W R/W

a) The usher b) The judge 3.What is the indictment? a) The notes written down by a juror b) Offences the defendant is charged with 4.What can a juror do if he needs more explanations? a) He/she can contact anyone b) He/she can call the judge 5.A verdict necessarily needs to be reached: a) Very quickly b) Unanimously 6. What may happen to a juror after the trial? a) He/she may be indicted b) He/she may not be taken to the waiting area

c) The jurors d) The clerk c) The words used when sworn in d) The names of the selected jurors c) He / she can give the usher a note d) He/she cannot do anything c) Narrowly d) In due time c) He/she may be called for another trial d) He/she may talk to the press

Match the following expressions to their definitions Unanimous verdict

If a jury cannot agree on a verdict then the judge might say that he will accept a majority decision. That means a verdict that 10 or 11 of the 12 jury members agree with. This normally happens after the jurors have spent several hours thinking about the verdict.

Majority verdict

If the jury is split into two fairly even groups and people will not change their minds, then there can be no verdict.

Hung Jury

This means that all 12 jury members agree with the decision.

5°) Who is who? Match the words to their definitions Judge Foreman Usher Prosecutor Defendant Witness Defence Advocate

one member of the jury who is chosen to be in charge of their discussions and to speak officially for them A person who prepares courts for hearings and make sure that everything and everyone involved is in the right place at the right time. At the start of the trial this person will explain exactly what the defendant is accused of, and tell you the facts of the case as the CPS and the police see them. the person accused of the crime a person who is in charge of a trial in a court and decides how a person who is guilty of a crime should be punished, or who makes decisions on legal matters A person who presents the arguments in favour of the accused a person who gives evidence in the trial

Try to set them correctly in the courtroom 1. ____________ 2. ____________ 3. ____________ 4. ____________ 5. Press 6. Public 7. ____________ 8. ____________ 9. ____________

1) Summing up… From The English Legal System by Jacqueline Martin Court Type of Case Crown Court High Court

County Court

Coroners’ Court

Court Qualifications Disqualified

Ineligible Excusals Selection Challenges

Function Verdict

Serious criminal cases: e.g. murder, manslaughter, rape Defamation False Imprisonment Malicious prosecution Any case alleging fraud Defamation False imprisonment Malicious prosecution Any case alleging fraud Deaths: In prison In police custody Through an industrial accident Where health and safety of public is involved

Role Decide verdict Guilty or not guilty Decide liability If find for the claimant also decide amount of damages

Number on jury 12 12

Decide liability If find for the claimant also decide amount of damages

8

Decide cause of death

7-11

Crown Court 18-70 years old Registered to vote Resident in the UK for at least five years since age 13 Sentenced to five years’ or more imprisonment – disqualified for life Served a prison sentence OR suspended sentence OR a community service order – disqualified for ten years Placed on probation – disqualified for five years On bail- disqualified while on bail Mentally ill Those working in the administration of justice Minister of religion or member of a religious order As of right – MPs, medical professions, armed forces, over 65 Discretionary – ill, business commitments, or other ‘good reasons’ A central office selects names from the lists of electors Summons sent to these people Must attend unless disqualified, ineligible or excused Individual juror may be challenged for cause, e.g. knows defendant Whole panel may be challenged for biased selection- but no right to a multi-racial jury ( R v Ford( 1989)) Prosecution may stand by any juror Decide verdict – Guilty or not Guilty Sole arbiters of fact but judge directs them on law Must try for a unanimous verdict BUT if cannot reach a unanimous verdict then a majority verdict can be accepted 10-2 or 11-1

6) Pair Work Ask you partner questions, answer his/hers and do so using as many words in the vocabulary list below you can. Tick the corresponding box once you have used a word or expression. Student A’s questions Student B’s questions 1. Have you ever been called on jury duty? 1. Would you like to be a juror? 2. What do you think of the age requirement? 2. What do you think of the other 2 requirements to be 3. What do you think of the disqualification criteria? qualified? 4. Should MPs be excused? 3. What do you think of the ineligibility criteria? 5. What about people with business requirements? 4. Should doctors be excused? 6. Explain why a juror might be challenged for knowing 5. Can you any other ‘good reason’ to be excused?

someone in the courtroom? 7. Is it important to reach a unanimous verdict? 8. Can you explain why the jury discussion takes place in secret? 9. Would be interested in any of the jobs figuring in the video? 10. So do you think juries are a good or bad thing?

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amount of damages

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bias clerk community participation

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complex evidence

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compulsory

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defence advocate

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impartiality

defendant expensive foreman high acquittal rates

intimidation

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6. Can you guess why there is no right to a multi-racial jury? 7. Why would a judge accept a majority verdict? 8. Would you find it difficult to maintain secrecy? 9. What about you? 10. Can you think of a more efficient alternative?

jury equity lack of understanding logger media influence mini-jury panel of judges prosecutor

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public confidence

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strain

racial bias secrecy single judge spreads the burden of determining guilt

7) Translation 8) Cryptogram The Encarta definition for the word prison has been encrypted. Try to solve the puzzle.

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unreasoned decision

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unrepresentative

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usher

use of electoral register