Why we have juries and are they a good thing?

Each year about 200,000 people undertake jury service, and they play a vital role in deciding the facts and evidence in trials and inquests. Recently, Lucinda was a juror and Alma-Constance asks about her experience and we talk to Professor Leslie Thomas KC about why it is so important for ordinary people to be involved in trials and inquests to ensure fairness, transparency, and trust in our legal system.

Leslie tells us:

·      what a jury means and the cases they are involved with

·      how jurors are chosen and the role they play in the legal process

·      what happens if they can’t agree on a verdict

·      whether we can trust ordinary people to make the right decisions

 Leslie says that when he was 10 years old, he had a huge imagination and wanted to be an adventurer going to exotic places and exploring the world. He sees his role as a barrister to pursue justice and help the marginalised and voiceless.

Written, edited and produced by Lucinda Acland

References and Resources

@_lesliethomas

Garden Court Chambers

Do Right and Fear No One (Simon & Schuster) Professor Leslie Thomas KC

https://www.gresham.ac.uk/watch-now/juries

http://www.gov.uk/jury-service

If you've got any questions, ideas about a topic or someone to interview, get in touch, we'd love to hear from you!! You can email us at kidslaw@spark21.org, contact us through the website: www.kidslaw.info  or through social media: Facebook, X and Instagram @KidsLawInfo

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See you soon in the next episode!