Jurors

Frequently asked questions

• What if I ignore the summons and do not attend for jury service?

  Anyone who fails to comply with a jury summons or who leaves jury service without permission may be prosecuted and fined.

• What if my employer will not give me permission to attend for jury service?

  A person summonsed for jury service, regardless of whether they actually serve or not, cannot be dismissed, disadvantaged or pressured by their employer due to their jury service obligations.  Under the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth), failure to comply with jury duty laws can result in significant penalties for both businesses and individual employers.

  Information about the rights and responsibilities of employers in relation to jury duty can be found on the Fair Work Ombudsman website.

• Do I have to serve as a juror if summonsed?

  You must attend for jury service at the date and time stated in your summons unless you have been advised by the Sheriff (or their representative) that you are not required to attend.

  If you are of the opinion that you cannot serve as a juror because you are not qualified, exempt or have sufficient cause to be excused as outlined below, you should advise the Sheriff (or their representative) immediately and provide a statutory declaration setting out your reasons with supporting evidence annexed.

• Not qualified for jury service

  Every person registered on the Northern Territory electoral roll is liable for jury service if they reside in the jury district unless they are not qualified.

  The jury district for Darwin includes the electoral divisions of Blain, Brennan, Casuarina, Drysdale, Fannie Bay, Fong Lim, Goyder, Johnston, Karama, Nelson, Nightcliff, Port Darwin, Sanderson, Spillett, and Wanguri.

  The jury district for Alice Springs includes the area of land in the municipality of Alice Springs.

  You are not qualified to serve as a juror:

  • if you are in prison;
  • if you are on parole;
  • if you have a sentence wholly or partly remitted and are subject to conditions;
  • if you are subject to a suspended sentence;
  • if you have completed a period of imprisonment within the last seven years;
  • if you have been sentenced to a term of imprisonment for a capital offence anywhere in Australia or in a prescribed country; or
  • if you are of unsound mind, in a hospital, undergoing treatment according to the Mental Health and Related Services Act 1998 (NT) or are a person in respect of whom an order has been made under the Guardianship of Adults Act 2016 (NT).
• Exempt from jury service

  

  You are exempt from serving as a juror if you are:

  • over the age of 70 and request to be exempt;
  • NT Administrator and the Administrator’s Official Secretary;
  • Secretary of the Executive Council;
  • a person who holds, or has, within the previous 10 years, held, a judicial office;
  • a spouse or a de facto partner of a Judge;
  • a member of the Legislative Assembly;
  • the Ombudsman, and an employee of the Office of the Ombudsman;
  • a person regularly employed on duties on board aircraft used in aerial ambulance services;
  • a legal practitioner;
  • an articled clerk or graduate clerk of a legal practitioner;
  • a clergyman in holy orders, a priest of the Roman Catholic faith and a minister of religion having an established congregation;
  • a monk, nun or other vowed member of a religious community;
  • a person registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law to practise as a dentist;
  • a practising medical practitioner;
  • the secretary and a member of the Parole Board;
  • a member of the Police Force of the Northern Territory;
  • a correctional services officer;
  • an employee as defined in the Public Sector Employment and Management Act 1993 who is employed in an Agency primarily responsible for law and the administration of justice, correctional services or the administration of courts or who is under the direct control of the Commissioner of Police;
  • a person employed by the Legal Aid Commission;
  • a person employed by the Director of Public Prosecutions;
  • a person with a disability who, as a result of that disability, is incapable of discharging the duties of a juror;
  • a person who is exempt under the Jury Exemption Act 1965 (Cth), including, but not limited to, members of the Fair Work Commission,  members and special members of the Australian Federal Police, and members of the Defence Force other than members of the Reserves; or
  • a person whom the Sheriff is satisfied has been summoned to attend as a juror not later than 3 years after the date on which they previously served as a juror.
• Sufficient cause (reasons) to be excused from jury service

  Sufficient cause (reasons) to be excused from jury service

  You may be excused from jury service by a Judge or an Associate Judge of the Supreme Court if you:

  • have sufficient cause (reasons) to be excused, such as not being able to read, write and speak the English language; or
  • your qualifications to serve as a juror are in doubt.

  There are limited reasons that will be accepted for excusal.

  If you are excused from jury service pursuant to your summons, this may be conditional upon you undertaking jury service at another time.

  If you do not have a good understanding of the English language, please organise for someone to assist you in completing a statutory declaration setting out that fact or attend the Darwin Sheriff’s Office or Alice Springs Supreme Court Registry.

  This information is provided below in a number of languages to assist:

  Italian

  Se non ha una buona comprensione della lingua inglese, potrebbe essere dispensato dalla giuria. La invitiamo a rivolgersi a una persona che sappia parlare e scrivere in inglese per assisterla durante la compilazione della dichiarazione statutaria o la richiesta di informazioni all’Ufficio dello Sceriffo.

  Indonesian

  Apabila Anda tidak begitu paham bahasa Inggris, Anda mungkin akan diizinkan untuk tidak duduk sebagai juri. Silakan cari seseorang yang dapat berbicara dan menulis dalam bahasa Inggris untuk membantu Anda mengisi Statutory Declaration Form atau carilah informasi ke Kantor Sheriff.

  Portuguese

  Se não possui um conhecimento aprofundado da Língua Inglesa, pode estar isento do serviço de jurado. Procure alguém que fale e escreva Inglês correctamente para o ajudar a preencher um Formulário de Declaração sob Juramento ou procure saber mais informações no Sheriff’s Office.

  Greek

  

  Chinese

  如果您不太懂英語，您可以豁免出任陪審員。

  請安排會說和會寫英語的人幫助您填寫一份法定聲明書或向司法長官辦公室查詢

• Where do I attend for jury service?

  You must attend for jury service at the date and time stated in your summons.

  In Darwin, you report to the Supreme Court, State Square, Darwin (next to Parliament House). You will move through security screening and into the Jury Muster Room when directed.

  In Alice Springs, you report to the Supreme Court, 14 Parsons Street, Alice Springs (opposite Alice Plaza where Target is located). You will move through security screening and into a courtroom when directed.

• When am I required to attend for jury service?

  You must attend for jury service at the date and time stated in your summons.

  In Darwin, your first attendance is for the jury induction, which will take approximately 2 hours. Your second attendance is for jury selection and you must be ready to sit on a trial from that date and time.

  In Alice Springs, your first attendance is for both the jury induction and jury selection so you must be ready to sit on a trial from that date and time.

  Trials usually range from 1 to 6 weeks. As part of the jury selection process, you will be advised of the length of the trial.

  Each day of a trial usually starts at 10.00am and ends at 4.30pm with one hour for lunch between 1.00pm and 2.00pm. Short breaks are taken for morning and afternoon tea.

  On occasion, the court will sit after 4.30pm. For example, to allow a jury to deliberate to reach a verdict.

  In some cases a verdict will not be reached and the Judge will direct the jurors to either return home for the night or be kept together in alternative accommodation (this is called sequestering and rarely happens) until a verdict is reached.

• How long am I required to attend for jury service?

  If you are summonsed for jury service you are typically required to be available for 4 to 6 weeks from the date stated in the summons.

  At the jury induction, you will be told to ring a free-call jury information number (which is also stated in the letter sent out with the summons). When you ring this number you will hear a recorded message that will tell you if, and when, you are required to attend for jury selection.

  If you are required to attend for jury selection, and are not selected for jury service, you may be excused from attendance until the date of commencement of the next trial or otherwise discharged. It is important to listen to and follow any directions of the Judge or Jury Manager (or their representative) in relation to your attendance.

• Will I get paid for jury service?

  

  P

  If you continue to receive your ordinary pay and have no leave deducted while attending for jury service you are not entitled to payment for your jury service because this would be ‘double-dipping’. You are only entitled to payment if you lose income as a result of your jury service.

  A juror who loses income as a result of jury service is entitled to receive payment for each day, or part day, of service as a juror as follows:

  • For each day, or part day, of service as a juror for a trial – 60 monetary units if the trial lasts 9 days or less or 120 monetary units if the trial lasts 10 days or more; and
  • For each day, or part day, of service where not serving as a juror for a trial – 20 monetary units.

  If the Sheriff is of the opinion that a juror attending for jury service has suffered financial loss, that juror may also be entitled to receive an additional amount for that attendance of 30 monetary units if the person serves as a juror for a trial; or 20 monetary units in any other case; or the difference of the financial loss where it is less than those amounts.

  The value of a monetary unit can be found on the Attorney-General’s Department’s website.

  To apply for any type of payment, a Jury Fees form must be completed and submitted to the Darwin Sheriff’s Office or Alice Springs Supreme Court Registry. Jurors must include their bank account details in order to receive payment by direct deposit. Please note that it may take a number of weeks for the payment to be processed.

  Information about the rights and responsibilities of employers, in relation to the payment of employees attending for jury service, can be found on the Fair Work Ombudsman website.

• Are meals supplied when I am serving on a jury?

  Lunch is provided to jurors sitting in a trial. Jurors can also purchase drinks and snacks from a vending machine so it is advised to bring some money (gold coins) for this purpose. If a jury is required to stay back after business hours to consider its verdict, an evening meal may also be supplied.

• Is parking available when I am serving on a jury?

  In Darwin, limited free car parking is available to jurors on a ‘first come first served’ basis.  Car parking is available at the Waterfront’s Multi-level Carpark on Kitchener Drive, Darwin City.  When you attend for jury service you will be provided a bar code that will allow you to exit the car park without having to pay the car parking fee.

  Please Note: The Darwin Sheriff’s Office is not able to waive or pay fines imposed by Darwin City Council.

  Parking facilities are not provided in Alice Springs.

• What study must I undertake to prepare myself as a juror?

  The information you need to serve as a juror will be provided to you at the jury induction.

  You must not undertake your own research or make your own inquiries about the case for which you are serving as a juror. The jury must reach a decision based on the evidence presented in court and the directions given by the Judge.

• What standard of dress is required for a juror?

  Jurors should attend the Supreme Court wearing neat, casual clothing and suitable footwear. It is advisable to also bring a light jacket or cardigan with you.

• Who else is in the courtroom during a criminal trial?

  In a criminal trial, the courtroom basically looks like this:

  In a criminal trial you can expect to see the following position holders in the courtroom:

  • The Judge – the Judge is called ‘Your Honour’ and sits on the raised bench at the front of the courtroom dressed in a wig and robes. The Judge’s role is to preside, which means directing the trial procedure, ruling on any legal issues that arise in the course of the trial such as the admissibility of evidence, and summing-up at the conclusion of the trial to give instruction to the jurors on how to deliver a verdict according to law.
  • Orderlies – this is a reference to the court staff who assist the Judge in the courtroom. They sit at the front of the court below the Judge. The Judge’s Associate wears a robe and the Sheriff’s Officers wear a uniform. The Sheriff’s Officers co-ordinate the court proceedings by opening and closing the court, swearing in the jury and witnesses, and operating the recording equipment. The Sheriff’s Officers sworn onto the trial make sure that no-one contacts the jury during the trial and provides a conduit through which the jury can communicate with the Court.
  • The defendant (accused) – this is the person or persons who are on trial for committing an offence. They sit in the dock opposite the jury with a security guard.
  • Legal representatives sit at the bar table and wear wigs and robes. They may include counsel (barristers) and solicitors.

  Counsel for the prosecution will present the evidence against the defendant to the Court.

  Counsel for the defence will present the case for the defendant to the Court and challenge the evidence presented by the prosecution.

  Solicitors sit either behind or next to counsel to instruct them and usually will not speak in Court.

  • Witnesses – there are many types of witnesses that may be called during a trial to give evidence, such as police officers, medical experts, and eyewitnesses.
  • Interpreters – if anyone involved in the trial does not read, write, speak or understand English an interpreter will be arranged to assist them.
  • Gallery – in an open court any member of the public can sit in the gallery and watch the trial, including the media. In a closed court only those persons permitted by the Judge can sit in the gallery and watch the trial.