Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Juries Act 1981

Miscellaneous provisions

32B: Identity and address of serving or former juror or prospective juror not generally to be disclosed

You could also call this:

"Keep jurors' personal details secret to keep them safe"

Illustration for Juries Act 1981

You must not share information that identifies a juror or former juror. If you do, you can get a fine of up to $10,000 or be imprisoned for up to 3 months. This rule helps keep jurors safe. You are not allowed to share a juror's address or any other details that could identify them. A juror includes someone who is attending for jury service. A former juror includes someone who attended for jury service in the past. There are some exceptions to this rule, such as when a former juror gives their consent to be identified. You can also identify a juror or former juror if it is part of a court case or investigation. Information can be shared with a court or the police if it is for a genuine investigation or prosecution. You can also share information if it is about a proceeding under this section. If you wilfully publish or broadcast information that identifies a juror, you will be in trouble. The law is in place to protect jurors and former jurors. You have to follow this rule to avoid getting into trouble.

This text is automatically generated. It might be out of date or be missing some parts. Find out more about how we do this.

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM1782661.

This page was last updated on — View changes

Topics:
Crime and justice > Courts and legal helpCrime and justice > Police and safetyRights and equality > Privacy
Previous

32A: Employees absent on jury service not to be prejudiced, or

"Your boss can't treat you unfairly if you're away from work for jury service"

Next

33: Verdicts not affected by informalities, or

"A verdict is still valid even if some things were not done correctly."

32BIdentity and address of serving or former juror or prospective juror not generally to be disclosed

  1. A person commits an offence and is liable on conviction to the penalty stated in subsection (2) if the person wilfully publishes any material, broadcasts any matter, or otherwise discloses any information, that identifies, or that may lead to the identification of, a juror or former juror.

  2. The penalty is imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months, or a fine not exceeding $10,000, or both.

  3. In this section,—

    former juror includes a person who attended for jury service

      identification of a juror or former juror includes disclosure of his or her address

        juror includes a person attending for jury service.

        1. Subsection (1) does not apply to any of the following:

        2. the identification of a former juror with the former juror’s consent:
          1. the identification of a juror or former juror if the identification forms part of the exercise or performance of a power, function, or duty conferred, imposed, or contemplated by this Act, the jury rules, or a rule of law or practice relating to the trial of civil or criminal cases:
            1. the disclosure of information to a court or to an investigative or prosecuting authority if the disclosure is made for the purposes of an investigation or prosecution of a contempt of court or of an offence relating to a juror or jury:
              1. the disclosure of information relating to a proceeding under this section.

                Notes
                • Section 32B: inserted, on , by section 21 of the Juries Amendment Act 2008 (2008 No 40).
                • Section 32B(1): amended, on , by section 7 of the Juries Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 90).