The Juries (Northern Ireland) Order 1996

Preparation of Jurors Lists

Preparation of Jurors Lists

4.—(1) In each year, on any day within the period of 14 days immediately preceding 1st March in that year, the Chief Electoral Officer shall arrange for the selection by computer, in accordance with paragraph (2), from the register of electors a sufficient number of jurors for the purpose of empanelling such juries as may from time to time be required.

(2) In each year, for the purpose of selecting the required number of jurors from the register of electors, the computer shall be programmed—

(a) to select every xth elector (where x is a number fixed by the Chief Electoral Officer having regard to the required number of jurors); and

(b) not to select those electors—

(i) whose names have been furnished by the several Juries Officers as being disqualified or ineligible for jury service or excused from jury service under Article 24, or

(ii) who have been selected in the preceding y years (where y is a number fixed by the Chief Electoral Officer, having regard to the required number of jurors).

(3) The Chief Electoral Officer shall arrange to be sent to the Juries Officer for each division a list of those persons selected who reside in the division and the Juries Officer shall serve the prescribed notice and the prescribed form of return on every person whose name is included in the list.

(4) The notice served under paragraph (3) shall—

(a) state the effect of Articles 3, 10 and 25 and Schedules 1, 2 and 3; and

(b) require the person on whom it is served to fill up the form of return in the prescribed manner and return the form within 14 days to the Juries Officer for the division in which that person resides.

(5) The Juries Officer, after considering the returns made under paragraph (4)(b) and such other matters as he thinks appropriate, shall revise the list referred to in paragraph (3).

(6) The list referred to in paragraph (3) as revised by the Juries Officer shall be and be known as “the Divisional Jurors List” and in each year the Juries Officer shall give public notice on any day within the period of 14 days immediately preceding 1st September in that year that copies of the Divisional Jurors List are available for inspection and may be obtained on payment of the fee fixed by the Lord Chancellor.

(7) The Divisional Jurors List shall contain the full name and address and, subject to paragraph (10)(b), the occupation of each juror in that division qualified and liable for jury service in that year.

(8) The Divisional Jurors List shall contain such other particulars and be arranged in such form (including division into Parts whether by reference to the area of jurisdiction of any court or courts or otherwise) as may be prescribed.

(9) The several Divisional Jurors Lists shall collectively form the Jurors List for Northern Ireland (to be known as “the Jurors List”).

(10) Regulations under Article 30 may amend this Article as to—

(a) the days and periods mentioned in paragraphs (1) and (6), and

(b) the requirement in paragraph (7) for the Divisional Jurors List to contain the occupation of each juror,

and may prescribe any other particulars which the Divisional Jurors List shall contain and the form of that List (including its division into Parts whether by reference to the area of jurisdiction of any court or courts or otherwise).

(11) In this Article—

“computer” means any device for storing and processing information; and

“year” means calendar year.