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Contempt of Court Act 1981
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Changes to legislation:
Contempt of Court Act 1981, Section 8 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 27 December 2025. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
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Changes and effects yet to be applied to Section 8:
- s. 8(1) words substituted by 2025 asp 12 s. 67(2)(a)
- s. 8(1A) inserted by 2025 asp 12 s. 67(2)(b)
- s. 8A inserted by 2025 asp 12 s. 67(3)
Changes and effects yet to be applied to the whole Act associated Parts and Chapters:
Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Act (including any effects on those provisions):
- s. 8(1A) inserted by 2025 asp 12 s. 67(2)(b)
- s. 8A inserted by 2025 asp 12 s. 67(3)
8 Confidentiality of jury’s deliberations[F1: Scotland and Northern Ireland].U.K.
[F2(1)[F3In Scotland and Northern Ireland,] Subject to subsection (2) below, it is a contempt of court to obtain, disclose or solicit any particulars of statements made, opinions expressed, arguments advanced or votes cast by members of a jury in the course of their deliberations in any legal proceedings.
(2)This section does not apply to any disclosure of any particulars—
(a)in the proceedings in question for the purpose of enabling the jury to arrive at their verdict, or in connection with the delivery of that verdict, or
(b)in evidence in any subsequent proceedings for an offence alleged to have been committed in relation to the jury in the first mentioned proceedings,
or to the publication of any particulars so disclosed.
(3)Proceedings for a contempt of court under this section (other than Scottish proceedings) shall not be instituted except by or with the consent of the Attorney General or on the motion of a court having jurisdiction to deal with it.]
Textual Amendments
F1Words in s. 8 heading inserted (13.4.2015) by Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 (c. 2), ss. 74(4), 95(1); S.I. 2015/778, art. 3, Sch. 1 para. 59 (with Sch. 2 para. 4(a))
F2S. 8 repealed (E.W.) (13.4.2015) by Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 (c. 2), ss. 74(2), 95(1); S.I. 2015/778, art. 3, Sch. 1 para. 59 (with Sch. 2 para. 4(a))
F3Words in s. 8(1) inserted (S.N.I.) (13.4.2015) by Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 (c. 2), ss. 74(3), 95(1); S.I. 2015/778, art. 3, Sch. 1 para. 59 (with Sch. 2 para. 4(a))
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