Who is a Juror?
A. Harrison Barnes of Legalauthority.com mentions and clarifies several functions that a juror, as an essential part of the jury, is responsible of discharging. As members of the jury, the jurors must be always present during the court proceedings. They must determine whether the suspect is actually guilty of the crime or offences for which he or she has been charged. The jury is required to draw a conclusion on the basis of evidence that they come across through the period of trial.The jury is not supposed to interpret the law on its own during a court case and jurors can only follow the instructions of the judge as far as the law is concerned. In case of some confusion on a particular legal point a juror may send a question for further clarification from the judge. During trial cases and court proceedings, the jurors are required to make note of the procedures which they are later supposed to follow in deliberating their individual decisions.Ò Once the trial comes to an end, the jurors are provided with issue papers containing questions regarding the case facts which they require to answer with special attention to reach a verdict.
The jurors are not allowed to converse with outsiders except the court registrar, says A. Harrison Barnes of legalauthority.com. The jurors are however allowed to keep a copy of the condemnation, their notes and exhibits. Although the jury decides whether the suspect is guilty or not, it cannot declare the sentence. This is entirely the right and purview of the judges who pronounce the sentences on the basis of the submissions made from all sides, mentions Barnes.
Apart from this, the jurors are also required to prepare reports for the various legal departments. They are responsible for compiling and typing information in the format of reporting, making use of arithmetic calculations like percentages, says A. Harrison Barnes. The jurors make use of software provided by the judicial system and personal computers for preparing reports and correspondence. They are responsible for maintaining files and logs for Grand Jurors and Petit Jurors. The jurors also coordinate with the administrative services, the Jury Commission and the Clerk of the Circuit Court. They are answerable to the attorneys and general public with regard to the jury issues.
The jury is required to take care of the following points while discharging their duties, says, A. Harrison Barnes.
- The jurors must make a decision on the basis of the facts only.
- The jurors must be independent and impartial in their decisions and regarding the trials.
- Trying to manipulate the decision of the jury is a serious offense. In case anyone tries to influence the juror, it is the duty of the juror to report this matter to the court of law.
- Statements made by the jury room must be kept confidential and never disclose to any outsider. This is a punishable offense.
- The jurors must always come to court properly dressed and punctually.
- They should try and avoid outside influence as much as possible. The jurors should never discuss a case with anyone. It is advisable to even avoid reading newspapers or watching T.V. news through the duration of a case.
The Juries Act of 1976 stipulated the following offenses as punishable by law:
- If the juror fails to attend jury service for no valid reason, or if he is not available in the jury service meetings for ill health due to addiction to drugs or alcoholic drinks he may be subjected to punishment.
- If a member provides services even after he is disqualified or ineligible, he may be punished.
- If he is falsely represented by someone else on jury service, or if a juror makes any false presentation to permit another juror to escape jury services he is liable for punishment.
In order to deliver his duties efficiently a juror must possess some skills, knowledge and abilities. A juror must possess sufficient amount of knowledge about the criminal justice system, says A. Harrison Barnes. Work experience is very important for efficient discharge of duties. They must also have a strong grasp over language and be competent in both written and verbal English in order to communicate effectively. The jurors must be able to competently interpret operating instructions, governmental regulations, procedure manuals and legal documents. They are also required to prepare routine reports, speak at ease with the civilians and members of various organizations, says A. Harrison Barnes. Apart from this, they are also required to be very good with numbers. Their reasoning ability must also be very sharp. They must be able to apply common sense and make use of graphical illustrations to solve complicated problems.
The juror is a very important part of the legal and justice system and it is the duty of every citizen to serve his or her jury duties honestly, efficiently and responsibly when called to do so.