Access to Justice

What happens after the trial

As a juror, you have a number of rights and responsibilities after the trial, including:

• the right to attend the sentencing hearing or to find out the defendant’s sentence if they’ve been found guilty;
• access to counselling if you need it; and
• the responsibility to keep what happened in the jury room confidential.

Sentencing

Many jurors are interested to find out the sentence of a guilty defendant. For some people, attending the sentencing hearing is a natural way to complete their jury service. At sentencing, the judge receives information about the offender. This includes victim impact statements and other information that helps the judge to decide on a sentence.

Counselling for jurors

Some cases can be distressing. You may have seen or heard upsetting evidence. Contact court staff if you wish to talk with a counsellor about your experience as a juror. The court will pay for this confidential service.

Can you answer questions about the trial?

You must not answer questions about how you decided on your verdict or anything else that happened in the jury room. You must keep everything confidential during and after the trial. If anyone, including the media, asks you questions, they may be breaking the law. You must tell the court staff. Your privacy is also protected. For example, the media are forbidden to photograph jurors during or after a trial.

What if you have serious concerns about the verdict or process?

If you have serious concerns about the verdict or the process used for reaching that verdict, the court registrar is the only person you should tell. The law protects the confidentiality of the jury room. Inquiries into the jury’s discussions or activities when considering its verdict happen only in very unusual circumstances.