This guide is maintained as a current resource for September 2026 and covers only the laws of England and Wales. Information is for general guidance, not legal advice. Consult a qualified solicitor for advice specific to your situation.
Curious about jury duty? Learn what a jury is, how jurors are selected, and why their decision is fundamental to the justice system in both criminal and civil trials.
Understanding the Jury System
A jury is a group of ordinary people selected at random to participate in the judicial process. In the legal system of England and Wales, juries play a distinct and historic role in deciding certain legal cases, particularly in serious criminal matters. The right to a jury trial has deep roots in the British legal tradition and remains a key feature of how justice is administered, even as reforms are proposed that may change its scope.
This article explains what a jury is, how jurors are selected, what they must do during a trial, and why the role of a jury matters in the legal system. It covers both criminal and civil contexts where juries may be used, the legal principles that guide jurors, and practical implications for those called to serve.
What Is a Jury?
In England and Wales, a jury is typically made up of 12 people selected at random from the electoral register. These individuals are chosen to hear evidence and make findings of fact in certain court proceedings. A jury's central function is to decide the factual issues in a case based on the evidence presented to them during a trial.
Types of Cases Where Juries Are Used
- Serious criminal trials in the Crown Court, such as charges of murder, rape or robbery. These are known as indictable offences.
- Some civil trials, such as defamation or fraud, though these are relatively rare.
- Inquests in Coroner's Courts may sometimes involve a jury to determine the cause of death.
Less serious matters are handled without a jury, for example in Magistrates' Courts where magistrates or a judge decide the outcome.
How Jurors Are Selected
Jurors are selected at random from the electoral roll. The Jury Central Summoning Bureau issues a summons, and if eligible, individuals must attend court. At court, a panel of potential jurors is formed, and 12 are chosen to sit on the jury for a specific trial. Jurors must meet eligibility criteria, which include being between 18 and 75 years old and registered on the electoral register.
Failure to respond to a jury summons without good reason can result in a fine, as attending jury service is a civic duty.
The Core Duties of a Juror
The primary responsibilities of a juror revolve around listening to evidence, understanding legal directions, and forming a collective decision.
1. Hearing the Evidence
Jurors attend the trial each day it sits. They listen to all evidence presented by both the prosecution and defence, including witness testimony and physical exhibits. This is the factual foundation on which their decision will be based.
Jurors are expected to pay close attention and avoid outside information about the case, including media reports or personal research, to prevent bias or contamination of their deliberations.
2. Following the Law as Directed by the Judge
Although jurors are responsible for determining facts, only the judge can explain the legal rules that apply to the case. The judge will give clear directions on relevant law before the jury retires to consider its verdict. Jurors must apply these legal instructions to the facts they find.
3. Deliberating and Reaching a Verdict
After the trial concludes, jurors retire to a private room to deliberate. They discuss the case and must collectively decide whether the prosecution has proven its case beyond reasonable doubt in criminal trials, or whether a civil claim has been made out in civil matters.
In criminal cases, the verdict is typically guilty or not guilty. A unanimous verdict is the aim, but under current rules a majority verdict (for example 10–2) may be accepted after appropriate deliberation time.
4. Returning the Verdict in Court
One member of the jury, often the first juror selected, acts as foreperson. The foreperson signs the verdict form and announces the decision publicly in court.
Legal Principles Governing Jurors
Jurors are lay persons - that is, they are not legally trained and have no specialised legal knowledge. The system recognises this by placing responsibility for legal rulings, admissibility of evidence, and sentencing on the judge. The jury's task is strictly to decide the facts and reach a verdict based on the evidence and legal direction given.
This separation of roles reflects long-standing legal principles: the jury finds facts, and the judge applies the law. The jury does not determine sentence or penalties; that is the judge's responsibility after conviction.
Why Juries Matter
The jury system embodies the principle of trial by one's peers - ordinary citizens participating in decisions about liberty, reputation and legal responsibility. This democratic element is seen by many solicitors as a safeguard against undue state power and a check on judicial authority.
Even so, proposals in Parliament seek to limit the scope of jury trials in response to court backlogs and resource pressures. Reforms under the Courts and Tribunals Bill introduced in 2026 aim to restrict jury use to the most serious offences, prompting public and professional debate about the future of juries in the justice system.
Practical Advice for Jurors
- Respond to a jury summons promptly. Ignoring it can lead to legal penalties.
- Attend all listed trial days and be punctual. Jury service usually lasts up to ten working days, though complex cases can take longer.
- Avoid discussing the case or consuming media about it outside the courtroom. Jurors risk legal sanctions for misconduct.
- Claim allowable expenses such as travel costs and compensation for lost earnings where applicable.
Common Misunderstandings
- Jurors do not decide sentences. They only decide guilt or liability.
- Jurors do not need legal expertise. Judges guide jurors on how to apply the law.
- Most criminal cases do not go to a jury. The majority are resolved in Magistrates' Courts or through guilty pleas.
Final Thoughts
The jury plays a vital role in the justice system of England and Wales by serving as an independent group of citizens tasked with assessing evidence and reaching factual decisions in serious legal cases. Jurors are ordinary people entrusted with weighing evidence impartially, guided by legal instructions from a judge.
Although reforms are under consideration that may change how widely jury trials are used, the core function of the jury - to reflect community judgment and protect individual rights in serious matters - remains central to the rule of law.
