High Court and District Court Jury Trial Protocol from 21 August 2023
Preliminary provisions
1. This protocol is issued by the Chief High Court Judge and the Chief District Court Judge under cl 4 of schedule 2 to the Juries Act It has effect from 21 August 2023.
2. In this protocol:
a. “Chief Judge” means:
i. in relation to High Court jury trials, the Chief High Court Judge;
ii. in relation to District Court jury trials, the Chief District Court Judge;
b. references to rules are references to rules in the Jury Rules 1990
Requirements for jurors during trials
3. The presiding judge may direct that one or more jurors are required to take a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT), if the judge is satisfied that it is reasonably necessary to do so in the interests of justice and to protect health and safety in the courts.
4. A juror must promptly advise the Court registry if they test positive for COVID-19.
Additional provisions in relation to summoning and selection of jurors
5. The modifications to the Jury Rules 1990 set out in schedule 1 to this protocol, which came into effect on 13 September 2022, continue in effect.
Dated 17 August 2023
Hon Justice Susan Thomas Judge Jacquelyn Moran
Chief High Court Judge Acting Chief District Court Judge
Schedule 1 – Additional Provisions in relation to Summoning and Selection of Jurors
1. The additional provisions set out in this schedule concerning the summoning and selection of jurors under the Jury Rules 1990 apply in relation to all jury trials conducted in the High Court and District Court with effect from 13 September
Additional provisions to facilitate distancing of summoned jurors
2. The Registrar may designate more than one area for assembly of summoned jurors under rule 14, and may require jurors to assemble in separate groups in two or more separate areas.
3. Where rule 16 applies:
a) some balloted jurors may be escorted to the courtroom, and others may be escorted to one or more separate rooms or areas of the court precincts; or
b) the balloted jurors may be escorted to two or more separate rooms or areas of the court precincts other than the courtroom.
4. There must be arrangements in place at each room or area to which balloted jurors are escorted under cl 3 to ensure that, as cards are drawn in accordance with rule 17, the jurors are able to hear their names being called in accordance with rule 19 (for example, by audio or audio-visual link).
Pre-balloting at supplementary court location
5. The Chief Judge may designate a location as a supplementary court location for the purpose of preliminary balloting of jurors under rule 15.
6. A summons issued by the Registrar under rule 10 may require a juror to attend at a supplementary court location. The modified form of jury summons set out in schedule 2 may be used.
7. Where a summons requires a juror to attend at a supplementary court location, all references in the Rules to attendance at the court must be read as including a reference to attending at that supplementary court location, and all references in the Rules to the court precincts must be read as including a reference to that supplementary court location.
8. The preliminary balloting of jurors for a trial provided for in rule 15 may be conducted before the date on which the trial is to Where the preliminary balloting of jurors is conducted before the trial date, the balloted jurors:
a) Need not be escorted immediately to the courtroom under rule 16;
b) Must be advised of the place, date and time at which they are required to attend for the purpose of balloting of jurors under rule 17;
c) On their arrival at court at the specified time and date, will be escorted to the courtroom and/or to another location or locations in the court precincts in accordance with cl 3 above.
9. When conducting preliminary balloting under rule 15 –
a) The available jurors need not be in the presence of the Registrar;
b) The available jurors may be assembled in two or more different locations, as directed by the Registrar;
c) The available jurors in each location must be able to hear each name as it is called out (for example, by audio or audio-visual link).
Pre-balloting without jurors present
10. A Judge may direct that preliminary balloting under rule 15 for a particular trial is to take place without the available jurors present. Where such a direction is given:
a) The preliminary balloting will be conducted by the Registrar in the precincts of the court without the available jurors present;
b) The preliminary balloting for the trial may be conducted by the Registrar before the date on which the jury is required for that trial;
c) The parties must be advised of the time and date at which the preliminary balloting will be conducted, and may be present at that preliminary balloting;
d) The available jurors must be advised of the time and date at which the preliminary balloting will be conducted, and provided with the opportunity to observe that preliminary balloting by audio-visual link and/or to hear it by audio link;
e) The Registrar may advise available jurors who have not been balloted in the preliminary ballot that they have not been balloted, and advise them whether they are required to attend court on the date and time specified in their jury summons, or at a later time and date in the week for which they have been summoned;
f) The Registrar may advise each juror who has been balloted in the preliminary ballot that they have been balloted, and advise them of the time and date at which they must attend court for the purpose of balloting of jurors under rule 17 (which may be the time and date specified in their jury summons, or any later time and date in the week for which they have been summoned);
g) On their arrival at court at the specified time and date, the balloted jurors will be escorted to the courtroom and/or to another location or locations in the court precincts in accordance with cl 3 above.
11. The Chief Judge may direct that the preliminary balloting procedure set out in cl 10 above will be adopted for all trials to be held at one or more specified courts during a specified period. Any directions given under the previous version of this Protocol issued on 21 April 2022 continue to apply until modified or withdrawn by the Chief Judge.
Schedule 2: Modified Form 1
Form 1 Jury summons
Section 13(1), Juries Act 1981
To [full name, address]
Your name has been randomly selected from the jury list. You are therefore required to attend for jury service—
at [name and address of court or supplementary court location]
on [day and date]
at [time].
You must also attend for the rest of that week, if required, at the same place and time or at a court specified by the Registrar in a written notice given to you. If sworn to try a case that continues beyond the end of that week, you must continue to serve until the case is determined or you are discharged by the court.
If you fail to attend as required, or refuse or neglect to serve, you may be liable under the Juries Act 1981 to a fine of up to $1,000, or to arrest to secure your attendance. You may, however, apply to have this summons cancelled, or to be permitted to defer your jury service, or to be excused from jury service.
Date:
Signature:
(Registrar)
Protocol concerning High Court and District Court Jury Trials - applicable from 17 August 2023 (PDF, 298 KB)