§ Mr. Hugh Jenkinsasked the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on the present method of choosing members of juries; and if he has any plans for changing the procedure.
The Attorney-GeneralIn accordance with the Juries Act 1974, panels of jurors are selected from the electoral register under arrangements made by my noble Friend. All parties to the proceedings are entitled to reasonable facilities to inspect the panel. A jury for a specific case is selected by ballot in open court from the panel of the persons summoned from the electoral register. Jurors so selected may be excused if they have good grounds as set out in the practice direction of the Lord Chief Justice of 12 January 1973. Jurors are then sworn after any challenges have been made and dealt with. My noble Friend the Lord Chancellor has no plans to change the arrangements.