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Juries Act 1981

Challenges

27: Directions to stand by

You could also call this:

"The Judge can ask some jurors to wait before deciding if they will be on the jury."

Illustration for Juries Act 1981

In a criminal case, you can ask the Judge to tell some jurors to wait. The Judge can do this if the Crown or prosecutor, and the defendant, agree to it. The Judge will tell some jurors to wait until all the available jurors have been called to try the charge. The Judge can also tell jurors to wait even if nobody asks them to. This can happen if the Judge thinks it is fair to do so. You can find more information about this in the Juries Amendment Act 2011. The Judge makes decisions about jurors to ensure a fair trial. You can be a part of a jury if you are called to try a case. The Judge's decisions are important to make sure justice is served.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM44831.

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Topics:
Crime and justice > Courts and legal helpCrime and justice > Criminal law
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27Directions to stand by

  1. In a criminal case, the Judge, on an application made to him by the Crown or other prosecutor with the consent of the defendant or any of the defendants, or by the defendant or any of the defendants with the consent of the Crown or other prosecutor, shall direct any number of jurors to stand by until all the jurors have been called who are available for the purpose of trying that charge.

  2. Notwithstanding subsection (1), a Judge of his own motion may give a direction under that subsection where he is satisfied that it is in the interests of justice to do so.

Compare
  • 1966 No 43 s 363(7)
Notes
  • Section 27(1): amended, on , by section 7 of the Juries Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 90).