Juries opened up to deaf people

The centuriesold ban on “strangers” in jury rooms is to be lifted to allow deaf people to have sign language interpreters.

Deaf people have been unable to join juries unless they can lip read for the 200-plus years since their deliberations were decreed confidential. Any breach of that rule can result in a jail sentence of up to two years.

However, the Government’s new Police, Crime, Sentencing and

Courts Bill will allow sign language interpreters to be the 13th person in the jury room and attend the entire court case so that deaf people can follow the proceedings and discussions.

It follows a legal challenge against the Government by David Buxton, chief executive of Action on Disability, who claimed its failure to allow him to bring an interpreter into the jury room amounted to discrimination.