Defence attorney renews call for jury pool to be widened

By Nakinskie Robinson    

 

Amid ongoing discourse about amendments to the Jury Act to include provisions to deal with jury tampering, defence attorney Peter Champagnie, KC is again calling for legislative changes to broaden the pool of people allowed to serve as jurors.

 

Mr. Champagnie said the move would enhance juror participation - an important aspect which he believes legislators have not given adequate attention.

 

He said existing provisions do not allow some people to participate in the process, which he believes is to the detriment of the system. 

 

"You have, for instance, that's been excluded and a whole list of categories of persons as number one. Number two, part of the problem is that when it comes to jury notice and service of it, policemen have to find where you live, you might have moved, you're not there at that particular time and therefore you have a low list in terms of persons being eligible from the jury pool."

 

He proposed that instead of using resources to have police locate prospective jurors, that "you simply have a post, for instance, at the tax office where when persons come to do business, you're served with a jury notice".

 

The Jury Act was last amended in 2016.

 

Mr. Champagnie wants a public awareness campaign surrounding the jury trial process, adding that lawmakers must be responsive in making amendments to laws.

 

But given the absence of a set law reform committee, he argued that the public plays a critical role in initiating legislative changes. 

 

"In England you have what is known as the law reform commission where there's a particular commission that constantly review laws and get the participation of members of the public. I'm not so sure we have that or if we do, I'm not so sure how active it is. So it is instances like these where it's important," he reasoned. 

 

"We as Jamaicans, ordinary Jamaicans, need to play a part by letting our voices be heard in terms of the justice system because it affects us. You can easily become a witness or a victim, God forbid, in the entire process." 

 

Mr. Champagnie was speaking Wednesday on TVJ's Smile Jamaica.