DISCUSSION PAPER CONSIDERS BROADENING JURY POOL
Source: Victoria. Attorney General. Media Release
"Members of Parliament, judicial officers, lawyers and police officers could be eligible to serve on Victorian juries under an option being considered in a discussion paper on jury eligibility released today by Deputy Premier and Attorney-General Rob Hulls. Mr Hulls said juries played an essential role in the justice system and it was time to reconsider restrictions on certain professionals and public officials being excluded from serving as jurors.“Jury service is an important civic duty that ensures community participation in the justice system,” he said.“While juries are selected randomly, they should be able to be drawn from the widest pool of prospective jurors as possible with the aim of representing a cross section of the community.Currently, judges, members of the police force, lawyers, bail justices, stenographers and Members of Parliament are excluded from the jury pool. This discussion paper asks whether this restriction is appropriate."