The Jury System works on the principle that everyone has the right to be judged by his or her equals. It is a judicial system in which ordinary people investigate all serious crimes and ordinary people give a verdict in all serious criminal trials.
FEATURES OF THE JURY SYSTEM
- The ordinary people are called JURORS.
- Their identity is always kept secret.
- They are picked by the local court by lottery from the electoral registerl. These Jurors could be you or me.
- They serve because it is their duty to their country and to their fellow countrymen and countrywomen.
- They serve because they wish to see criminals convicted and innocent people set free.
- There are two types of juries: GRAND JURY and TRIAL JURY.
- Each type of jury is different and has different duties and powers.
The GRAND JURY
- The GRAND JURY is composed of 23 jurors who are college graduates, and who serve as jurors for 6 months only. They are replaced after 6 months.
- For any crime, they have 45 days to secretly investigate for probable cause,
- They accuse/charge suspects directly in court.
- They decide with a fixed majority rule by a secret ballot.
- They will be formed in cities, provinces and regions.
IMPORTANCE OF THE GRAND JURY
- A Grand Jury prevent politicians and powerful public officials in interfering with the indictment of high-profile crime offenders.
- The jurors are not appointees of any public official, hence are not beholden to anyone.
- A Grand Jury has the power to indict any person for Obstruction of Justice, regardless of power or authority for interfering with its functions; or with the judges, justices, trial juries, prosecutors and public officials who administer justice.
- Most importantly, a Grand Jury can indict any politician or powerful public official including the PRESIDENT OF THE COUNTRY.
- Jurors will become examples and teachers to their own family members, friends and neighbours.
The TRIAL JURY
- The TRIAL JURY is composed of 12 jurors ordinary citizens, who are at least 21 years old with average intelligence.
- They are randomly selected from the electoral register to decide the guilt or innocence of the accused in serious criminal cases.
- THEIR DECISION IS FINAL!
IMPORTANCE OF THE TRIAL JURY
- Trial Jurors do not have to be college graduates. They only need to be able to read and write. At 21 years old they will be able to understand the facts as presented to them, to gauge who is telling the truth or lying and to deliver a verdict.
- Trial Postponement is not allowed (except for a suspension of 3 days only due to illness of the judge or defence lawyer or prosecutor).
- Most trials, on average, last 3 days but they could last between a few hours and 2 months.
- It is recommended that the punishment of the convicted felon be graduated according to the number of guilty verdicts passed by the trial jurors.
- The maximum term of imprisonment will be given to the 12-0 conviction; 6-6 will be acquitted and those in between will be reduced as provided for by the country’s penal code.
THE ROLE OF A COURT JUDGE
- The Court Judge does not participate in the decision making.
- He presides and enforces order in the court.
- He rules on the admissibility of evidence,
- He educates the jurors on the laws involved in the case and how to serve in the jury, and
- He sentences the accused if found guilty.