JURY SERVICE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22139, 19 June 1935, Page 12

JURY SERVICE

COMPILING THE LISTS THE CLASSES EXEMPTED A SPECIAL MAORI ROLL Tiio compilation of tho jury list and the general working of tho jury system have an element of mystery for most people, but the principle is as old as British justice, and the details of its working in this country are elaborately set out in the Juries Act, 1908. Those qualified to serve aro there defined as "'every man between the ages of 21 and 60, who is of good fame and character, and who resides within New Zealand (not being a Maori)." Not that this indicates exemption for the Maori. By a little-known and rarely-used provision a special roll is sot up for him, and this may be drawn upon, wholly or in part, for tho trial of cases in which natives are involved.

Such a roll, up to date, with 34 names upon it, actually exists at the Auckland Supreme Court, but, judging by past experience, the likelihood of its ever being brought into use seems very remote.

The jury roll of persons "of good fame and character" is revised in the early part of every year. Those exempted include. members of either House of Parliament, Judges, clergymen and religious teachers, schoolmasters, barristers and solicitors, medical practitioners, coroners, gaolers and constables, pilots and ships' captains, chemists, members of the army or navy or defence forces, and employees of the Post and Telegraph Department and many railway officials.

One of the sheriff's duties is to make up a special jury book for the grand jury. This he compiles by selecting from the common jury lists "all men who are described in such lists as esquires, gentlemen, merchants, managers of banks, civil engineers and architects, and also such other persons whose names appear on such lists as are known to him to be of the best condition." In Auckland during the present year the grand jury list has been largely augmented in order to meet the criticism that prominent business men were called upon for duty at too frequent intervals.

From the 7429 common jurors nearly 600 "persons of the best condition" have been selected, an increase of about 240. The grand jurors, as is now generally understood, have to determine only whether the Crown in a criminal case has sufficiently strong evidence to justify the sending on of the case for trial by a common jury, and their duties are always completed on the first day of the criminal sessions. They receive no remuneration, their high station in the community apparently removing them above such material considerations.

It is customary in Auckland to call up 90 common jurors for the first week of the sessions, 84 for the second and 72 for the third. A little calculation will show that about 1000 are required every year and. as there are more than 7000 on the list, service should not come round on the average more frequently than once in seven years. Opportunity for exemption still remains after the juror has actually been sworn-in in Court, and occasionally the Judge will let a man go on account of deafness or sickness or some urgent private or public business.