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Introduction
In the Northern Territory, persons charged
with serious offences are tried by a Judge
and jury in the Supreme Court. This ensures
every person accused of a serious crime
receives a fair trial, free from government or
political influence.
It ensures that members of the public
participate in the administration of justice.
Jury service may involve some temporary
inconvenience to those chosen (by ballot) to
serve, but it is essential to the maintenance
of individual freedom and security.
In serving as a juror, you are participating
in a process that has been responsible for
defending the rights of British and Australian
citizens for hundreds of years.
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Do i have to serve as a
juror if summonsed?
YES, subject to certain exceptions explained below. If
you are not qualified to serve as a juror, are exempt
from service or show sufficient cause to be excused
from attending you do not have to serve as a juror. Such
matters should be brought to the Sheriff’s attention
prior to the day you are required to attend.
Ineligibility through english
language difficulty.
If you do not have a good understanding of the English
language, you may be excused from jury service.
Please organise for someone who can speak and write
English to assist you to fill out a Statutory Declaration
Form or make enquiries at the Sheriff’s Office.
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.
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Greek
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.
Chinese
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Persons not qualified
(Juries act S10).
A person who falls under one or more of the following
categories is not qualified to serve as a juror:
•• is of unsound mind, in a hospital or approved
treatment facility or undergoing treatment under
the Mental Health & Related Services Act;
•• is a protected person within the meaning of the
Aged and Inform Persons’ Property Act;
•• is unable to read, write and speak the English
language;
•• has been sentenced to a term of life imprisonment;
•• has been sentenced to a term of imprisonment and
has not completed the sentence, is on parole or a
period of less than 7 years has elapsed since the
sentence was completed;
•• is a person in respect of whom an order under s 15
of the Adult Guardianship Act is in force;
•• is a person who does not reside within the jury
district for Darwin, comprising the area of land in
the divisions of Port Darwin, Fannie Bay, Brennan,
Nightcliff, Millner, Johnston, Sanderson, Casuarina,
Wanguri, Karama, Drysdale, Blain and Nelson
(Juries Act S12, Reg 4); or does not reside within
the jury district for Alice Springs, comprising the
area of land in the municipality of Alice Springs is
not qualified to serve as a juror (Juries Act S12,
Reg 5).
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Persons exempt
(Juries Act S11, Sch 7).
A person who falls under one or more of the following
categories is exempt from serving as a juror:
•• is blind, deaf or dumb or otherwise incapacitated
by disease or infirmity from discharging the duties
of a juror;
•• is the Administrator, the Administrator’s official
secretary or the secretary of the Executive
Council;
•• Currently holds, or has within the previous 10 years
held, a judicial office or is the spouse of a Judge;
•• is a member of the Legislative Assembly;
•• is the Ombudsman, or an employee within the
meaning of the Public Sector Employment and
Management Act who is employed in the Office of
the Ombudsman;
•• is a person regularly employed on duties on board
aircraft used in aerial ambulance services;
•• is a practising legal practitioner or an articled clerk
of a practising legal practitioner;
•• is a clergyman in holy orders, a priest of the
Roman Catholic faith, a minister of religion having
an established congregation, a monk, nun or other
vowed member of a religious community;
•• is a practising dentist or dental specialist registered
under the Dental Act;
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•• is a practising medical practitioner;
•• is a member or secretary of the Parole Board or a
parole officer within the meaning of the Parole of
Prisoners act;
•• is a member of the Police Force of the Northern
Territory;
•• is an officer within the meaning of the Prisons
(Correctional Services) Act;
•• is an employee as defined in the Public Sector
Employment and Management Act who is employed
in an Agency primarily responsible for law and the
administration of justice, prisons and correctional
services or the administration of courts or who is
under the direct control of the Commissioner of
Police
•• is a person employed by the Legal Aid Commission
within the meaning of the Legal Aid Act;
•• is a person who is not liable to serve as a juror
by virtue of, or who is exempted from service as
a juror under, the Jury Exemption Act 1965 of the
Commonwealth
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Persons excused from service
(Juries Act, S15)
You may apply to be excused from service for sufficient
cause. Approvals for release from jury duty are
however, granted sparingly by the Court and only in
the case of ill health and matters of special urgency
or importance. You may be excused from jury service
if you have served as a juror within the preceding 3
years.
Depending on the circumstances, you may be excused
for a specified period of time or, as a condition of being
excused, it may be ordered that your name be included
amongst the names of jurors to be summoned for jury
service at a subsequent time (Juries Act S15, 17A).
Note: If you have received a jury summons, you will
not be excused from attending in any circumstances
unless you have been excused from attending upon
notice from the Sheriff (Juries Act S15, 18AB).
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How do i notify the sheriff?
An application must be made by Statutory Declaration.
The Statutory Declaration should be completed as
soon as possible after receipt of the jury summons
and must set out the full grounds upon which the
application is made. Medical conditions must be
verified by a medical certificate.
Darwin jurors should forward the Statutory
Declaration without delay to The Sheriff, GPO Box
3946, Darwin NT 0801 or personally deliver it to the
Office of the Sheriff, Supreme Court, State Square,
Darwin (by Parliament House).
Alice Springs jurors should forward the Statutory
Declaration without delay to The Deputy Sheriff,
GPO Box 1394, Alice Springs NT 0871 or personally
deliver it to the front office at the Law Court Building
(Law Court Building, Cnr Parsons & Hartley Streets,
Alice Springs).
The Sheriff will notify potential jurors by telephone
of the result of any application to be excused prior
to the date they are first required to attend for jury
service.
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Where do i report?
Darwin jurors are to assemble in the Jury Muster Room
which is situated on the Ground Level, inside the front
entrance of the Supreme Court, on the left, just past
the Information Desk. Jurors are required to attend by
9.00am.
Alice Springs jurors are to assemble at the Law Courts
Building, corner of Parsons and Hartley Streets, Alice
Springs at 9.00am.
What are the hours
of sitting?
Normally 10.00am to 4.30pm with a luncheon
adjournment from approximately 12.30 to 2.00pm.
Short breaks are taken in the morning and afternoon.
Occasionally sittings may extend beyond the hours
mentioned. Until a jury retires to consider its verdict,
jurors are free to return home at night unless the Judge
directs that the jury be kept together (this very rarely
happens). Once the jury retires to consider its verdict
it is not uncommon for the jury to be kept together until
the verdict is delivered.
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Over what period of time do i
remain on jury service?
Sittings usually extend from one to six weeks. Jurors
MAY NOT be required to attend on the date given in the
jury summons. Jurors should phone the Free-call Jury
Information number on either the morning of required
attendance or after 5:00pm the working day prior for
the latest information.
Darwin
Panel A, 1800 657 600;
Panel B, 1800 657 511;
Alice Springs
Panel A, 1800 064 619
If a juror attends and is not selected by ballot to sit
at the first trial, the juror will usually be excused from
attendance until the date of commencement of the
next trial. The Judge always specifies the date and
time when jurors must re-attend.
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Do I Get Paid For
My Attendance?
Persons summoned to attend for jury service should
ascertain whether they will be paid by their employer
and/or if they will be required to use leave entitlements
by reason of attending for jury service. Employees
who continue to receive ordinary pay or who have no
deduction from leave entitlements are ineligible for
payment.
The payment for attending for jury service is as
follows:
•• Attendance without selection - $20 per day,
•• Attendance as a selected juror on a trial of 9 days
duration or less - $60 per day
•• Attendance as a selected juror on a trial of 10 days
or more duration - $120 per day
If it is proved to the satisfaction of the Sheriff that as a
result of attendance on a day, or part day, a juror has
suffered financial loss the juror is entitled to receive an
additional amount for that attendance of up to:
•• $30 per day if the person serves as a juror on a
trial; or
•• $20 per day in any other case
In order to receive payment, a “Request for Payment”
Form must be completed and given to the Sheriff at the
commencement of the sittings. Jurors must include
their bank account details in order to receive payment
by direct deposit every two weeks.
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Are meals supplied?
Lunch is provided to jurors engaged in a trial. If a
jury is late considering its verdict, an evening meal is
brought to the jury room.
Are parking
facilities available?
Limited parking facilities are provided in Darwin
– please refer to the map in this publication for the
exact location. Parking facilities are not provided in
Alice Springs.
What study must i undertake
to prepare myself as a juror?
None. Jurors must not undertake any research or
preparation for service as a juror. The jury decides the
facts on the evidence which is given during the trial. The
Judge directs the jury as to the law applicable. Jurors
require no special knowledge or education. They must
adequately understand the English language.
What standard of dress is
required for a juror?
Jurors should ensure they are neatly dressed and
wear suitable footwear. A light cardigan or jacket is
advisable.
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Who else is in the court room
and what does it look like?
Judge
Witness
Orderlies
Dock
Jury
Bar
Gallery
Entrance
Jury Passage
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General
Jurors should make alternative business and
domestic arrangements to cover themselves in
the event of being selected in the ballot to serve
on a jury. Any further questions relating to jury
service should be directed to the Sheriff of the
Supreme Court, at Darwin on (08) 8999 7930 or
at Alice Springs on (08) 8951 5711. The Supreme
Court of the Northern Territory website may be
viewed at www.supremecourt.nt.gov.au
Counselling
If you have any questions relating to counselling
you can contact the Sheriff of the Northern
Territory on (08) 8999 7930. The Sheriff will
advise you of the available services and establish
what assistance is required.
Sentencing remarks
The Supreme Court publishes reasons
for sentencing convicted persons on the
Supreme Court of the Northern Territory
website. To view the sentencing remarks visit
www.supremecourt.nt.gov.au.
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Darwin
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Contact details
Darwin
Sheriff’s Office
Supreme Court Building
State Square
Darwin NT 0800
Postal Address
GPO Box 3946
Darwin NT 0801
General Enquiries
Phone: (08) 8999 7930
Fax:
(08) 8999 7848
www.supremecourt.nt.gov.au
Alice Springs
Sheriff’s Office
Law Court Building
Parsons Street
Alice Springs
Postal Address
GPO Box 1394
Alice Springs NT 0871
General Enquiries
Phone: (08) 8951 5711
Fax: (08) 8951 5702 or
(08) 8951 5726
www.supremecourt.nt.gov.au
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