§ 35. Mr. GILBERTasked the Home Secretary on what instructions jurors are summoned for Sessions and High Court juries; whether he is aware that there are many complaints about the excessive number of persons who are now summoned to the various Courts, many of whom are never called for service, and are kept waiting idle about the various Courts; and whether, in view of the expense and waste of time to many business people, he can issue any orders to those responsible for summoning jurors that only a necessary and reasonable number of persons should be summoned for each Session or Court?
§ Mr. SHORTTJurors are summoned by the Sheriffs in compliance with precepts issued by Clerks of Assize or Clerks of the Peace or a notice from the Crown Office. As it is very necessary that there should be a sufficient number in attendance to try the cases that have to be tried, it is inevitable that more jurors should sometimes be summoned than are actually required. I have no authority to issue instructions on the subject.