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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.

ItalianSe 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

IndonesianApabila 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.

PortugueseSe 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?

JudgeWitness

JuryDock

Orderlies

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

Alice springs

BENNETT

S

T

MITCHELL ST

BUS TERMINAL

SMITH ST

THE MALL

PARLIAMENT

HOUSE

CHURCH

SUPREMECOURT

STATE SQUARE

PARKING

SUPREMECOURT

WILLS TCE

(STUART HWY)

ANZAC HILL

PARSONS

STGREGORY TCE

RAILWAY TCE

BATH

ST

HARTLEY

ST

TODD

ST

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Contact details Darwin

Sheriff’s Office Supreme Court Building State Square Darwin NT 0800

Postal AddressGPO Box 3946Darwin NT 0801

General EnquiriesPhone: (08) 8999 7930Fax: (08) 8999 7848www.supremecourt.nt.gov.au

Alice Springs

Sheriff’s Office Law Court BuildingParsons StreetAlice Springs

Postal AddressGPO Box 1394Alice Springs NT 0871

General EnquiriesPhone: (08) 8951 5711Fax: (08) 8951 5702 or (08) 8951 5726www.supremecourt.nt.gov.au

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