Age limit for jury service raised to 75

Change in law to reflect longer life expectancy

To order your own print of this or any other Mac cartoon, or a Pugh cartoon, visit Mailpictures.newsprints.co.uk or call 020 7566 0360 THE maximum age for jury service is to be raised to 75, ministers will announce today.

Under existing rules, 69 is the age limit for a juror but the Government intends to change the law to include those aged 70 to 75.

This will add two million to the list of potential jurors. Up to 6,000 over-69s are expected to be called every year. Anyone summoned would be expected to serve unless they had a good reason why they should be excused – such as mental illness or incapacity.

Ministers said the change, expected to come into force next year, reflects changes in life expectancy.

Criminal Justice Minister Damian Green said the shift would enable the criminal justice system to benefit from the knowledge and ‘ life experiences’ of older people. ‘The right to be tried by your peers is, and remains, a corner- stone of the British Justice system laid down in the Magna Carta almost 800 years ago,’ he said.

‘Our society is changing and it is vital that the criminal justice system moves with the times. The law as it currently stands does not take into account the increases to life expectancy that have taken place over the past 25 years.’

‘This is about harnessing the knowledge and life experiences of a group of people who can offer significant benefits to the court process.’

The Office for National Statistics estimates that the average Briton remains ‘disability-free’ until the age of 75. The statutory retirement age for judges is 70.

Saga director of communications Paul Green said: ‘ Older people have a great deal of life experience and many remain astute, savvy and mentally agile well into later life and will be a valued addition to any jury. This is a common sense reform and should be applauded.’

Jane Ashcroft, chief executive of housing charity Anchor, said: ‘Older people have already contributed a great deal to society

‘Unique skills and knowledge’

and their experiences and views are invaluable.

‘I’m pleased that more older people will now be able to share their wisdom and participate in the criminal justice system.’

Michelle Mitchell, director general of Age UK, said: ‘Judging someone on the basis of their date of birth alone risks overlooking a person’s unique skills and knowledge.

‘While it’s true that increasing longevity brings its challenges, there is also extraordinary human capital within our older population – older people are working, volunteering and contributing a huge amount to communities and the wider marketplace. We welcome all ways of including older people into the different aspects of society including eligibility to sit on a jury.’

The maximum age limit for jurors was set at 65 by the 1974 Juries Act. It was increased to 69 by the 1998 Criminal Justice Act, meaning anyone can be called until their 70th birthday.

Justice officials said between 3,000 and 6,000 from the new age group are expected to be selected annually. Every year, about 178,000 people serve on juries in England and Wales having been selected at random from the electoral register.

The service usually lasts two weeks but can take much longer for complex or lengthy criminal trials. Anyone who fails to turn up can be fined up to £1,000.