The Supreme and District Courts can now order up to three additional jurors in criminal trials to allow them to continue if a juror falls ill.
Attorney General Mark Speakman said the amendment to the Jury Regulation 2015 was necessary to address potential increases in juror absences during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Preventing any further delays to Supreme and District Court trials is a priority,” Mr Speakman said.
“Allowing the flexibility of an expanded jury for shorter trials is a practical measure to ensure there are fewer disruptions to the delivery of justice,” he said.
“If jurors get sick or display common symptoms of COVID-19, this amendment will increase the likelihood there will be sufficient jurors at the conclusion of the trial to considers its verdict.”
Mr Speakman said the amendment reduced the estimated trial duration where a Court could empanel additional jurors from longer than three months to more than four weeks.
“Additional jurors will not be ordered for every trial with an estimate of four weeks or more,” he said.
“The amendment gives the Supreme and District Courts the ability to consider the necessity for additional jurors on a case-by-case basis.”
He said if more than 12 jurors remained at the end of the hearing, a ballot would be drawn to determine which 12 participated in the deliberations.
