Often tested

Serious cases: enter the jury

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In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, serious criminal cases are tried in the Crown Court, by a judge and a jury.

Serious cases in Scotland go to a Sheriff Court, either by a sheriff (a judge) alone or by a sheriff with a jury. The most serious cases, such as murder, go to the High Court of Justiciary (often just called the High Court), where they are heard by a judge and a jury.

The golden statue of Lady Justice on the dome of the Old Bailey in London, holding a sword in one hand and scales in the other — The Central Criminal Court in London, known as the Old Bailey. On top of the dome, Lady Justice holds a sword in her right hand and scales in her left. Unlike many statues of Lady Justice, this golden figure from the early 1900s **wears no blindfold**. Many famous trials have taken place in the court below. Photo: Philip Halling / Geograph, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

A jury is a group of ordinary people, picked at random from the local electoral register (the list of voters):

England, Wales and Northern Ireland: 12 people
Scotland: 15 people

If you receive a summons (an official letter calling you), you must serve on the jury, unless you are not eligible (for example, because you have a criminal record) or you have a good reason to be excused (for example, illness). Jurors listen to the evidence in court and then reach a verdict of "guilty" or "not guilty". In Scotland there is a third possible verdict: "not proven". If the jury finds someone guilty, the judge decides the punishment, not the jury.

Who can be picked for a jury, and at what age you can serve, are explained in "Shared values, good neighbours and jury service".

The Justiciary Building beside the Royal Mile in Edinburgh: a stone front with a bronze statue by the door — The Justiciary Building beside the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, where Scotland's High Court of Justiciary sits. When it was finished in 1937 it was the Sheriff Court; in the early 1990s it was handed over to the High Court. Photo: Enric, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Key facts

The court system in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is in some ways different from Scotland's.
Minor criminal cases: in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, mostly the Magistrates' Court; in Scotland, the Justice of the Peace Court.
Magistrates and JPs are local people. They are usually unpaid in England, Wales and Scotland, and need no legal qualifications; they are trained and supported by a legal adviser. They decide whether someone is guilty and what the sentence is. In Northern Ireland, a paid, legally qualified District Judge or Deputy District Judge hears the case.
Serious criminal cases: in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the Crown Court, with a judge and a jury. In Scotland, the Sheriff Court, with a sheriff alone or a sheriff and a jury; the most serious cases (such as murder) go to the High Court, with a judge and a jury.
Jurors are picked at random from the local electoral register: 12 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, 15 in Scotland.
If summoned, you must serve, unless you are ineligible (for example, you have a criminal record) or have a good reason (for example, illness).
After hearing the evidence, the jury decides "guilty" or "not guilty"; Scotland also has "not proven". After a guilty verdict, the judge decides the penalty.

Quiz

Which TWO statements about juries are correct?

Quiz

In Scotland, where are the most serious criminal cases, such as murder, heard?

Quiz

Is the statement below TRUE or FALSE? In Scotland, a jury can reach a verdict of 'not proven' as well as 'guilty' or 'not guilty'.

Chapter contents: Respecting the Law