Editing Jury (section)

==== United Kingdom ====
{{See also|Jury of matrons}}

===== England and Wales =====
{{Main|Juries in England and Wales}}

In England and Wales jury trials are used for criminal cases, requiring 12 jurors (between the ages of 18 and 75), although the trial may continue with as few as 9. The right to a jury trial has been enshrined in English law since [[Magna Carta]] in 1215, and is most common in serious cases, although the defendant can insist on a jury trial for most criminal cases. Jury trials in complex fraud cases have been described by some members and appointees of the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] as expensive and time-consuming.<ref>Lloyd-Bostock S, Thomas C. (1999).  [https://www.law.duke.edu/shell/cite.pl?62+Law+&+Contemp.+Probs.+7+(Spring+1999) DECLINE OF THE "LITTLE PARLIAMENT": JURIES AND JURY REFORM IN ENGLAND AND WALES] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402202013/https://www.law.duke.edu/shell/cite.pl?62+Law+&+Contemp.+Probs.+7+(Spring+1999) |date=2012-04-02 }}.''Law and Contemporary Problems''.</ref> In contrast, the [[Bar Council]], [[Liberty (pressure group)|Liberty]] and other political parties have supported the idea that trial by jury is at the heart of the judicial system and placed the blame for a few complicated jury trials failing on inadequate preparation by the prosecution.<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=The Sunday Times |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article535745.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081011101129/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article535745.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 11, 2008 |title=Jury trials 'intolerable' in major fraud cases |date=June 21, 2005 |first=Simon |last=Freeman}}</ref>

On 18 June 2009 the [[Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales|Lord Chief Justice]], [[Lord Judge]], sitting in the [[Court of Appeal of England and Wales|Court of Appeal]], made English legal history by ruling that a criminal trial in the [[Crown Court]] could take place without a jury, under the provisions of the [[Criminal Justice Act 2003]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8106590.stm |title=First trial without jury approved |work=BBC News |date=18 June 2009}}</ref>

Jury trials are also available for some few areas of civil law (for example defamation cases and those involving police conduct); these also require 12 jurors (9 in the County Court). However less than 1% of civil trials involve juries.<ref>Glendon MA, Carozza PG, Picker CB. (2008) ''Comparative Legal Traditions'', p. 251. Thomson-West.</ref> At the new [[Manchester Civil Justice Centre]], constructed in 2008, fewer than 10 of the 48 courtrooms had jury facilities.

===== Northern Ireland =====
During [[the Troubles]] in [[Northern Ireland]], jury trials were suspended and trials took place before [[Diplock Courts]]. These were essentially [[bench trial]]s before judges only. This was to combat [[jury nullification]] and the intimidation of juries.<ref>{{cite web |last1=juries |title=a group of people who have been chosen to listen to all the facts in a trial in a law court and to decide if a person is guilty or not guilty, or if a claim has been proved: members of the jury The jury has/have been unable to return a verdict (= reach a decision). Police officers aren't usually allowed to be/sit/serve on a jury. |url=https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/jury |website=Cambridge Dictionary |access-date=1 June 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Dimensions of Irish terrorism|first=Alan|last=O'Day|date=1994|publisher=G.K. Hall|isbn=0816173389|oclc=29023375|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/dimensionsofiris0002unse}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=October 2010}}

===== Scotland =====
{{Main|Trial by jury in Scotland}}

In Scottish criminal trials, juries are composed of fifteen residents,<ref>{{cite web|title=Why Was I Picked For Jury Service?|publisher=Courtroom Advice|url=http://www.courtroomadvice.co.uk/why-was-I-picked-for-jury-service.html|access-date=2010-09-21|archive-date=2010-10-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101003035245/http://www.courtroomadvice.co.uk/why-was-I-picked-for-jury-service.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> while in civil trials there is a jury of 12 people.