A trial by jury, where the jurors are chosen at random, has a
long history. Introduced in England a thousand years ago, its
origins trace back to ancient Greece. As the British Empire grew in
the 17th and 18th centuries, trial by jury
spread throughout the world.
Today, trial by jury is the cornerstone of our justice system. A
jury trial involves twelve people being picked at random from a
large group of citizens to hear evidence in court. The jury then
retires to deliberate in secrecy and determine the guilt or
innocence of the accused.
While Commonwealth law requires unanimous verdicts, under the
NSW Jury Act 1977, courts in NSW
allow an 11 to 1 decision.
How are members of a jury selected?
