NCJ Number
129940
Date Published
1991
Length
51 pages
Annotation
Allegations that members of jury panels in Queensland, Australia had been improperly approached in November 1990 led to an investigation by the Queensland Criminal Justice Commission.
Abstract
The special prosecutor informed the Commission that panel members had received telephone calls asking them about their political party and how they would vote if an election were held now. After its investigation and public hearings, the Commission concluded that no grounds existed for criminal charges against any person or for drawing adverse inferences against any person concerned with the trials involved. However, the investigation and hearings raised several concerns. These include the permissible extent of inquiries into the beliefs and attitudes of potential jurors, the perceived inequality between the powers of the prosecution and defense to influence the selection of jurors, and the admission to jury panels of persons who may not be legally eligible for jury service. Summary of findings and lists of witnesses and exhibits