UK Law Articles
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The Times
September 4 2000
Jurors will be picked by computer
By Frances Gibb, Legal Editor
JURIES will be selected by computer from today as part of a package of reforms to make jury service more attractive and stop thousands of people a year evading it.
A new Central Summoning Bureau based in London will also have a direct link to police criminal records so that jurors with convictions are swiftly identified and disqualified.
The computer will select jurors from electoral rolls, issue summonses and liaise with courts on the numbers of jurors needed, instead of the present "Dickensian" system which effectively amounts to sticking a pin in a list.
The aim is to improve the lot of the juror by eliminating times spent hanging around waiting for trials - sometimes never to be called at all. The computer will ensure a more accurate estimate of how many jurors are needed. It will also centralise all requests to be excused jury service so that they are treated consistently and fairly.
The computer system, tested at seven courts, will be rolled out over three months with crown courts at Harrow, Snaresbrook, Wood Green, Durham, Kingston-upon-Hull and Leeds starting today.
