Ministers to hold discussion events on jury reform

A series of discussions are being held around Scotland over the next month on the implications of the recently published research study into the way juries work.

Covered in a feature in the November Journal, the findings followed the largest study of its kind ever undertaken in the UK. It involved 64 mock juries and 969 individual participants, and was the first to consider the unique nature of the Scottish jury system with 15 jurors, three verdicts and a simple majority.

The report sets out the researchers’ findings but does not make any recommendations. It suggests that:

• Reducing jury size from 15 to 12, as is the norm in most English language jurisdictions, might lead to more individual jurors switching their position towards the majority view.
• Asking juries to reach a unanimous or near unanimous verdict might tilt more jurors in favour of acquittal.
• Removing the not proven verdict might incline more jurors towards a guilty verdict in finely balanced trials.
• Jurors hold inconsistent views on the meaning of not proven and how it differs from not guilty.

When the research was published, the Cabinet Secretary for Justice stated that now that we have the evidence from this research, the Scottish Government would engage in serious discussions on all the findings, including whether we should move to a two verdict system. This is your chance to participate in these important discussions.

The events will take the form of interactive table discussions, facilitated by Scottish Government officials, on delegates’ views on the implications of the research findings for potential criminal justice reforms, as well as their own experiences of the issues raised in the research.

They are part of widespread engagement across the country with justice organisations, legal professionals, the third sector and people with experience of the criminal justice system to seek views on the findings and any implications these may have for future criminal justice reforms.

Dates and venues, and links to book via eventbrite, are:

• Dundee, 23 January 2020: Best Western Queens Hotel, Nethergate: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/85952358819  
• Ayr, 30 January 2020: Fairfield House Hotel, 12 Fairfield Road: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/85961662647    
• Edinburgh, 4 February 2020: St Andrew's House, Regent Road www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/86319358525     
• Inverness, 10 February 2020: Mercure Inverness Hotel, Church Street: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/85961947499       
• Aberdeen, 20 February 2020: Society of Advocates in Aberdeen, Broad Street: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/85962306573 
• Glasgow, 25 February 2020: 5 Atlantic Quay, 150 Broomielaw: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/86318802863

Each event runs from 5.30-7pm.