{"id":"juries-act-1962","name":"Juries Act 1962","slug":"juries-act-1962","collection":"act","jurisdiction":"nt","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":30136,"registerId":"nt-juries-act-1962-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-01","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Juries Act 1962","content":"NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA\nJURIES ACT 1962\nAs in force at 1 August 2023\nTable of provisions\nPart I Preliminary\n1 Short title ......................................................................................... 1\n2 Commencement .............................................................................. 1\n4 Repeal and saving ........................................................................... 1\n5 Definitions ........................................................................................ 1\nPart II Trial by jury\n6 Juries in criminal cases ................................................................... 2\n6A No juries in civil cases for defamation ............................................. 2\n7 Juries in other civil cases ................................................................. 2\n8 Payment of jury fee in civil cases .................................................... 3\nPart III Qualifications of jurors and liability to\nserve\n9 Qualification of jurors and liability to serve ...................................... 3\n10 Persons not qualified ....................................................................... 4\n11 Exempt persons............................................................................... 5\n12 Jurors to serve within own jury district ............................................. 5\n13 Impeachment of verdict of jury ........................................................ 5\n14 Liability of disqualified or exempted persons to attend as\njurors ............................................................................................... 6\n15 Excusing of jurors by Judge or Associate Judge ............................. 6\n17A Power to exempt from jury service on condition of subsequent\nservice ............................................................................................. 6\n18AB Power of Sheriff to exempt in certain cases .................................... 6\nPart IV Jury districts\n19 Jury districts..................................................................................... 7\n20 Boundaries of jury districts .............................................................. 7\nPart V Jury lists\n21 Jury lists........................................................................................... 7\nPart VI Jury precepts and summonses\n23 Definition ......................................................................................... 8\n\nJuries Act 1962 ii\n24 Jury precepts ................................................................................... 8\n25 Terms of precept ............................................................................. 8\n26 Provision for cases where Sheriff is interested ................................ 8\n27 Jurors to be chosen by random selection by computer ................... 8\n27A Sheriff's power to question .............................................................. 8\n29 Summons to jurors .......................................................................... 9\n30 Service of summons ........................................................................ 9\n32 Panel of jurors and return of persons not summoned ..................... 9\n33 Sheriff's return to precept .............................................................. 10\n34 Inspection of jury panels in civil cases ........................................... 10\n35 Informalities, &c., not to invalidate verdict ..................................... 10\n36 Correction of mistakes of name or description .............................. 10\nPart VII Striking and empanelling jury\nDivision 1 Criminal trials\n37 Striking jury in criminal cases ........................................................ 11\n37A Reserve jurors in criminal cases .................................................... 12\n38 Different issues may be tried by same jury .................................... 13\nDivision 2 Civil trials\n39 Striking jury in civil cases ............................................................... 13\n40 Different issues may be tried by same jury .................................... 14\n41 Reducing list where party does not appear ................................... 14\nPart VIII Challenge\n42 Right of challenge .......................................................................... 15\n43 Standing jurors by limited .............................................................. 15\n44 Challenge in criminal cases ........................................................... 15\n46 Challenge in civil cases ................................................................. 15\n47 Informalities in summoning jurors .................................................. 15\nPart IX Disagreement\n49 Disagreement in civil cases ........................................................... 16\nPart X Offences\n49A Confidentiality of jury deliberations ................................................ 16\n49B Anonymity of jurors ........................................................................ 19\n50 Non-attendance of jurors ............................................................... 22\n51 Non-attendance of talesman ......................................................... 22\n52 Unlawful dismissal, &c. .................................................................. 22\n54 Limit of 3 days in civil cases .......................................................... 23\n55 Personation of jurors ..................................................................... 23\n56 Excess of fees ............................................................................... 23\n\nJuries Act 1962 iii\nPart XI Miscellaneous\n58 Oath by jurors ................................................................................ 23\n59 Oath of officer in charge of jury ..................................................... 23\n60 Payment of jurors .......................................................................... 23\n61 View during trial ............................................................................. 23\n62 Reduction of jury............................................................................ 24\n63 Food and refreshment ................................................................... 24\n65 Abolition of certain juries ............................................................... 24\n68 Regulations.................................................................................... 24\nPart XII Transitional matter for Criminal Justice\nLegislation Amendment Act 2011\n69 Savings – exemption under section 11 .......................................... 25\nSchedule 1 Repeals\nSchedule 3 Jury precept\nSchedule 6 Oaths\nSchedule 7 Persons exempt from service as jurors\nENDNOTES\n\n\n\nNORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA\n____________________\nAs in force at 1 August 2023\n____________________\nJURIES ACT 1962\nAn Act relating to juries\nPart I Preliminary\n1 Short title\nThis Act may be cited as the Juries Act 1962.\n2 Commencement\nThis Act shall come into operation on a date to be fixed by the\nAttorney-General by notice in the Government Gazette of the\nNorthern Territory.\n4 Repeal and saving\n(1) The Acts of the State of South Australia specified in Part I of\nSchedule 1 are, in their application in the Northern Territory,\nrepealed to the extent expressed in the third column of that Part.\n(2) The Ordinances specified in Part II of Schedule 1 are repealed.\n5 Definitions\n(1) In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears:\ncapital offence means an offence the penalty for which under a\nlaw in force in the Territory is prescribed to be life imprisonment,\nwith or without hard labour, and in respect of which the court\nimposing the sentence may not vary or mitigate the sentence and\nincludes murder.\nChief Justice means Chief Justice within the meaning of the\nSupreme Court Act 1979.\nJudge means a Supreme Court Judge.\njury list means the jury list for Darwin or the jury list for Alice\nSprings.\n\nPart II Trial by jury\nJuries Act 1962 2\njury precept means a precept issued under section 24.\npanel of jurors means a list of names prepared in pursuance of\nsection 32(1).\nreserve juror, in respect of a criminal trial, means a person chosen\nand returned under section 37A(1) as a reserve juror in respect of\nthat trial.\nroll means a roll within the meaning of the Electoral Act 2004.\ntalesman means a person appointed to serve as a juror under\nsection 37(2A) or 39(2).\nthe Court means the Supreme Court.\nthe proper officer, in relation to the exercise of a power or the\nperformance of a duty under this Act, means an officer of the Court\nappointed by a Judge as the proper officer for that purpose.\nthe Sheriff means the Sheriff of the Northern Territory.\nPart II Trial by jury\n6 Juries in criminal cases\nWhere, under a law in force in the Northern Territory, an offence\nprosecuted in the Court is required to be tried with a jury, the jury\nshall consist of 12 jurors who shall be chosen and returned in\naccordance with this Act.\n6A No juries in civil cases for defamation\nCivil proceedings for defamation must be tried by the Court without\na jury.\n7 Juries in other civil cases\n(1A) This section does not apply in relation to civil proceedings for\ndefamation.\n(1) The trial of a civil issue or a question of fact in a civil issue shall be\nby the Court without a jury unless the Court orders otherwise in\naccordance with this section.\n(2) A party to a civil issue may make application to the Court for an\norder that the issue or a question of fact in the issue be tried by the\nCourt with a jury.\n\nPart III Qualifications of jurors and liability to serve\nJuries Act 1962 3\n(3) Whether or not such an application has been made, the Court may,\nif it appears just, order that a civil issue or a question of fact in a\ncivil issue be tried by the Court with a jury.\n(4) Where the Court so orders, the jury shall consist of 4 jurors chosen\nand returned in accordance with this Act.\n8 Payment of jury fee in civil cases\n(1) Where the Court makes an order under section 7(3), on the\napplication of a party to a civil issue, that party shall pay to the\nsheriff the prescribed fee.\n(2) The regulations may prescribe amounts to be paid in respect of the\nprescribed fee:\n(a) before the trial commences on the first day of the trial; and\n(b) before the trial resumes on each subsequent day of the trial.\n(3) If an amount so prescribed is not paid before the trial commences\nor resumes on any day (as the case requires), the Court may, if it\nthinks fit, allow further time not exceeding one hour after the\ncommencement or resumption of the trial within which the amount\nmay be paid by any party to the trial.\n(4) If the amount is not paid before the trial commences or resumes on\nany day (as the case requires) or, if the Court allows further time,\nwithin the further time so allowed, the Court shall, if a jury has been\nempanelled, discharge the jury and the trial shall proceed without a\njury, notwithstanding that the trial may have commenced with a\njury.\n(5) The Court may order that the amount of the prescribed fee paid by\nany party to a trial shall be costs in the cause.\nPart III Qualifications of jurors and liability to serve\n9 Qualification of jurors and liability to serve\n(1) Subject to section 10, a person whose name is on the roll is\nqualified to serve as a juror.\n(2) A person who is qualified to serve as a juror and who is not exempt\nunder section 11 is liable to serve as a juror.\n\nPart III Qualifications of jurors and liability to serve\nJuries Act 1962 4\n10 Persons not qualified\n(1) For the purposes of this section, a person who has been sentenced\nto a term of imprisonment has not completed the sentence:\n(a) if he has been released from the custody of the Commissioner\nof Correctional Services on parole – until the expiration of the\nperiod of parole; or\n(b) if the sentence has been wholly or partly remitted under\nsection 432 of the Criminal Code, section 8A of the Criminal\nLaw (Conditional Release of Offenders) Act 1971 or\nsection 114 of the Sentencing Act 1995 subject to\nconditions – until the conditions have been satisfied and no\nlonger apply in relation to him; or\n(c) if that sentence has been suspended:\n(i) subject to conditions – until the conditions have been\nsatisfied and no longer apply in relation to him; or\n(ii) unconditionally – until the expiration of the period during\nwhich the sentence remains suspended.\n(2) For the purposes of this section, a person shall be deemed never to\nhave been under sentence of imprisonment for an offence if he has\nbeen granted a free pardon in respect of the offence.\n(2A) If a charge or conviction is expunged under the Expungement of\nHistorical Homosexual Offence Records Act 2018 or Part XI,\nDivision 18, of the Criminal Code:\n(a) the person is to be treated under this Act as if the person had\nnever committed or been charged with, prosecuted for,\nconvicted of or sentenced for the offence; and\n(b) the expunged charge or conviction is not a ground for\nineligibility to be a juror.\n(3) A person who:\n(a) has been sentenced to a term of imprisonment (whether\nwithin the Territory, in a State or another Territory or in a\nprescribed country) for an offence other than a capital offence\nand:\n(i) has not completed the sentence; or\n(ii) a period of less than 7 years has elapsed since he\ncompleted the sentence;\n\nPart III Qualifications of jurors and liability to serve\nJuries Act 1962 5\n(b) has been sentenced to a term of imprisonment (whether\nwithin the Territory, in a State or another Territory or in a\nprescribed country) for a capital offence;\n(c) is a person in respect of whom a guardianship order under the\nGuardianship of Adults Act 2016 is in force;\n(d) is of unsound mind or is:\n(i) in a hospital or an approved treatment facility; or\n(ii) undergoing treatment,\nunder the Mental Health and Related Services Act 1998; or\n(e) is a represented adult, as defined in section 3 of the\nGuardianship of Adults Act 2016;\nis not qualified to serve as a juror.\n11 Exempt persons\n(1) A person specified in Schedule 7 is exempt from serving as a juror.\n(2) A person who is over the age of 70 may exempt himself or herself\nfrom serving as a juror on a permanent basis by giving written\nnotice to the Sheriff.\n(3) The name of a person exempt from serving as a juror under\nsubsection (1) or (2) must not be included on a jury list.\n12 Jurors to serve within own jury district\nExcept as a talesman:\n(a) a person who does not reside within the jury district for Darwin\nis not qualified to serve as a juror at Darwin; and\n(b) a person who does not reside within the jury district for Alice\nSprings is not qualified to serve as a juror at Alice Springs.\n13 Impeachment of verdict of jury\nThe verdict of a jury shall not be impeached on the ground that a\njuror was not qualified to serve, or was exempt from serving, as a\njuror unless the lack of qualification or the exemption was\nsubmitted before the juror took the oath under section 58.\n\nPart III Qualifications of jurors and liability to serve\nJuries Act 1962 6\n14 Liability of disqualified or exempted persons to attend as\njurors\nA person whose name is on the jury list is not excused from\nattendance in accordance with a jury summons by reason of:\n(a) not being qualified to serve; or\n(b) being exempt from serving,\nas a juror, unless the Sheriff was informed accordingly and has\nexcused the person from attending.\n15 Excusing of jurors by Judge or Associate Judge\nIf a Judge or an Associate Judge:\n(a) is satisfied that a person summoned to attend as a juror, or a\nperson appointed as a talesman, ought for sufficient cause be\nexcused from attendance; or\n(b) has doubt as to the person's qualifications to serve as a juror\nor be appointed as a talesman or whether the person is\nexempt from serving as a juror,\nthe Judge or Associate Judge may excuse the person from\nattendance or further attendance on the Court during a period\nspecified by the Judge or Associate Judge.\n17A Power to exempt from jury service on condition of subsequent\nservice\n(1) Where a person is excused under section 15 from attendance or\nfurther attendance on the Court, the Judge or the Associate Judge\nmay, as a condition of excusing that person, order that the name of\nthe person be included amongst the names of jurors to be\nsummoned for jury service at some subsequent time specified in\nthe order.\n(2) Where a Judge or an Associate Judge makes an order under\nsubsection (1), the Judge or Associate Judge shall notify the Sheriff\nof the making of the order and the Sheriff shall cause the person\nthe subject of that order to be summoned, in accordance with that\norder, as a juror.\n18AB Power of Sheriff to exempt in certain cases\nWhere the Sheriff is satisfied that a person has been summoned to\nattend as a juror not later than 3 years after the date on which he\npreviously served as a juror, the Sheriff may, upon application\n\nPart V Jury lists\nJuries Act 1962 7\nmade by or on behalf of the person, excuse that person from\nattendance in compliance with the summons.\nPart IV Jury districts\n19 Jury districts\nFor the purposes of this Act, there shall be:\n(a) a jury district for Darwin; and\n(b) a jury district for Alice Springs.\n20 Boundaries of jury districts\nThe jury district of Darwin and the jury district of Alice Springs shall\ncomprise such areas of land as are respectively prescribed.\nPart V Jury lists\n21 Jury lists\n(1) The Sheriff shall, not later than 30 November in each year, make\nout a jury list for each of the jury districts of Darwin and Alice\nSprings.\n(2) The Jury lists for Darwin and Alice Springs shall contain, in\nalphabetical order, the names of persons qualified to serve, and not\nexempt from serving, as jurors who reside within the respective jury\ndistricts.\n(4) A jury list shall show the address and occupation of each person\nwhose name appears on the list and the names appearing on the\nlist shall be prefixed by numbers in regular arithmetical series.\n(5) Each jury list made out under subsection (1) shall come into\noperation on 1 January next after it is made out and shall,\nnotwithstanding that the boundaries of the prescribed areas\nconstituting a jury district may have changed after it was made out,\nremain valid for all purposes for a period of 12 months expiring with\n31 December next following.\n\nPart VI Jury precepts and summonses\nJuries Act 1962 8\nPart VI Jury precepts and summonses\n23 Definition\nIn this Part, unless the contrary intention appears, the Sheriff in\nrelation to a jury precept that is directed, under section 26, to a\nperson other than the Sheriff means that other person.\n24 Jury precepts\nFrom time to time, and as often as occasion demands, the Chief\nJustice shall issue, under his hand and seal, a precept directed to\nthe Sheriff requiring him to summon jurors before the Court at\nDarwin or Alice Springs, as the case requires.\n25 Terms of precept\nA jury precept shall be in accordance with the form in Schedule 3\nand shall specify the number of jurors required and the time when\nand the place where the attendance of the jurors is required, and\nshall be issued and delivered to the Sheriff at least 14 clear days\nbefore the time so specified.\n26 Provision for cases where Sheriff is interested\nIf it appears to the Chief Justice that the Sheriff is a party to, or\ninterested in, a matter to be tried before a jury, he may direct a jury\nprecept to such other person as he thinks fit.\n27 Jurors to be chosen by random selection by computer\nWhen a jury precept is delivered to the Sheriff, the Sheriff shall\nchoose the persons to be summoned from those whose names\nappear in the jury list for Darwin or the jury list for Alice Springs in\naccordance with random selection by computer in the prescribed\nmanner.\n27A Sheriff's power to question\n(1) A Deputy Sheriff shall not exercise any power under this section\nunless the Deputy Sheriff has been expressly authorized in writing\nby a Judge or an Associate Judge to exercise that power.\n(2) The Sheriff and each Deputy Sheriff shall, in the exercise of any\npower under this section, comply with such directions as are given\nfrom time to time by the Chief Justice.\n\nPart VI Jury precepts and summonses\nJuries Act 1962 9\n(3) The Sheriff and a Deputy Sheriff may, at any time before the juror's\nname is called in accordance with section 37 or 39, question any\njuror chosen under section 27 to ascertain whether that juror is able\nto read, write and speak the English language.\n(4) If the Sheriff or Deputy Sheriff is not satisfied that a juror referred to\nin subsection (3) is able to read, write and speak the English\nlanguage, the Sheriff or Deputy Sheriff must report the fact to a\nJudge or an Associate Judge.\n29 Summons to jurors\nThe Sheriff shall cause to be served upon each juror chosen in\npursuance of section 27 a summons in a form approved by the\nSheriff.\n30 Service of summons\nA summons to a juror shall be served on the juror:\n(a) by delivering it to him personally as soon as practicable and\nnot less than 7 clear days before the time specified in the\nsummons for his attendance; or\n(b) by forwarding the summons by ordinary prepaid post to his\naddress, as it appears on the annual jury list, so that the\nsummons would, in the ordinary course of post, be delivered\nto that address not less than 7 clear days before the time\nspecified in the summons for his attendance.\n32 Panel of jurors and return of persons not summoned\n(1) The Sheriff shall, before the time when a jury precept is required to\nbe returned into the Court, prepare a list showing the names, in\nalphabetical order, and the descriptions, of the persons summoned\nin pursuance of the jury precept.\n(2) Where a single criminal trial is to commence in a jury district on a\ncertain day, either:\n(a) all the jurors who attend in obedience to the summons from\nthe jury district on that day shall constitute the jury panel for\nthat trial; or\n(b) the Sheriff shall, by ballot, constitute a jury panel for the trial\nfrom amongst those who attend in obedience to the\nsummons.\n\nPart VI Jury precepts and summonses\nJuries Act 1962 10\n(3) Where 2 or more criminal trials are to commence on a certain day,\nthe Sheriff shall, before or on the day on which the jurors are\nsummoned, by ballot, divide the jurors into separate panels and\nappropriate each panel to a trial.\n(4) Subject to section 37(2)(a), where jurors from any jury panel are not\nincluded in a jury for a trial the Sheriff may excuse them from\nfurther jury service on the day on which that trial commences, but\nthey shall attend again, in accordance with their respective\nsummonses, at a time and place directed by the Sheriff.\n33 Sheriff's return to precept\nUpon the day and at the place named in a jury precept for the\nappearance of the jurors required to be summoned by the jury\nprecept, the Sheriff must return into the Court the jury precept and,\nannexed to it, the panel of jurors relating to the precept.\n34 Inspection of jury panels in civil cases\nA party to the trial of a civil issue, or his counsel, may, at a\nconvenient time before the trial, inspect or obtain a copy of the\npanel of jurors annexed to a precept for the appearance of jurors at\nthat trial.\n35 Informalities, &c., not to invalidate verdict\nAn omission, informality or error in name or description (if there\nbeing no question as to identity) with respect to a jury list, a jury\nprecept or a panel of jurors does not invalidate or affect any verdict\nreturned by a jury that is in other respects according to law.\n36 Correction of mistakes of name or description\nThe Sheriff, on showing to the satisfaction of a Judge or an\nAssociate Judge that an error has been made in the name or\ndescription of a juror and that there is no question as to the identity\nof the person may, by leave of the Judge or the Associate Judge,\nas the case may be, in writing, cause the error to be corrected and\nthe person to be thereafter summoned by his right name and\ndescription.\n\nPart VII Striking and empanelling jury\nDivision 1 Criminal trials\nJuries Act 1962 11\nPart VII Striking and empanelling jury\nDivision 1 Criminal trials\n37 Striking jury in criminal cases\n(1) Subject to section 37A, at a criminal trial, the proper officer must:\n(a) select one at a time, in accordance with the written directions\nof the Chief Justice, persons from the panel of jurors to the\ntrial; and\n(b) call aloud the name and description of the person selected,\nuntil 12 persons appear and remain approved as indifferent.\n(1A) The 12 persons who remain are, after taking the oath under\nsection 58, to be the jury to try the issues on the trial.\n(2) If the names of persons from the panel of jurors to the trial are\nexhausted, by challenge or otherwise, and less than 12 persons\nappear and remain approved as indifferent, the Court may adjourn\nthe trial and such persons may be retained to be included in the\njury for the trial and:\n(a) further persons (to be included on the jury panel for the trial)\nmay be chosen from the persons who were summoned to\nattend on another Court in the same jury district but were not\nincluded in a jury for a trial at that Court; or\n(b) a further jury precept may be issued for persons to be\nincluded on the jury panel for the trial.\n(2A) Where there are not sufficient persons to be the jury to try the\nissues of the trial after following either one or both of the\nprocedures referred to in subsection (2), or where the Court\nconsiders those procedures are not appropriate, then, at the\nrequest of the Crown, the defendant or the defendant's counsel, the\nCourt may adjourn the trial and order the Sheriff to appoint forthwith\nfrom amongst such of the persons in or in the vicinity of the Court\nas are qualified and liable to serve, but not exempt from serving, as\njurors in a jury district as many persons as are sufficient to make up\n12 jurors.\n(2B) Notwithstanding subsections (2) and (2A), the jury may be\ndischarged and a further jury precept may be issued in respect of\nthe trial.\n\nPart VII Striking and empanelling jury\nDivision 1 Criminal trials\nJuries Act 1962 12\n(2C) Section 33 shall apply, with the necessary changes, to the extent\nnecessary for the operation of subsection (2)(a).\n(3) Talesman are subject to challenge in accordance with this Act.\n37A Reserve jurors in criminal cases\n(1) The Court in which a criminal trial is to be held may direct that, in\naddition to the 12 persons required under section 37(1) to be the\njury to try the issues on that trial, not more than 3 jurors summoned\nin accordance with section 30 shall be chosen and returned as\nreserve jurors in respect of that trial.\n(2) A reserve juror:\n(a) shall have the same qualifications;\n(b) shall be called and empanelled in the same manner;\n(c) shall be subject to the same challenges and liability to be\nstood by and to be discharged;\n(d) shall take the same oath; and\n(e) shall have the same functions, powers, facilities and\nprivileges,\nas a juror, and for that purpose the law in respect of jurors shall\napply to and in relation to a reserve juror with such modifications as\nare required by this section.\n(3) A juror at a criminal trial who, prior to the time the jury retires to\nconsider its verdict, dies or becomes disqualified from or is\ndischarged from performing his duties as a juror shall be replaced\nby a reserve juror, if any, who, if there is more than one reserve\njuror available at that trial, shall then be determined by lot in such\nmanner as the Court determines.\n(4) Where a reserve juror who has not replaced a juror dies or\nbecomes disqualified from or discharged from performing his duties\nas a juror, the trial in respect of which he is a reserve juror shall not\nbe affected by that death, disqualification or discharge.\n(5) Immediately before the jury retires to consider its verdict, a reserve\njuror who has not replaced a juror shall be discharged.\n\nPart VII Striking and empanelling jury\nDivision 2 Civil trials\nJuries Act 1962 13\n38 Different issues may be tried by same jury\nWhere a jury has tried, or been drawn to try, a criminal issue, the\nCourt may, if no objection is made by the Crown or other party to\nanother criminal issue:\n(a) try that other issue with that jury; or\n(b) order the names of any jurors to the withdrawal of whom the\nparties consent, or who are justly challenged or excused by\nthe Court, to be set aside and try that other issue with:\n(i) the residue of the original jury; and\n(ii) jurors whose names are on the panel of jurors, who\nhave not been selected under section 37A to be one of\nthe panel of jurors to the trial and who appear and are\napproved as indifferent.\nDivision 2 Civil trials\n39 Striking jury in civil cases\n(1) When a civil issue that is to be tried with a jury is called on for trial,\nthe proper officer:\n(a) must, in accordance with the written directions of the Chief\nJustice:\n(i) select, one at a time, persons from the panel of jurors to\nthe trial; and\n(ii) call aloud the name and description of the person\nselected,\nuntil, after all challenges for cause are allowed, 12 persons\nappear and remain approved as indifferent; and\n(b) must compile a list of the names of those jurors.\n(2) If the names of persons from the panel of jurors to the trial are\nexhausted, by challenge or otherwise, before the list contains the\nnames of 12 jurors:\n(a) the Court may order the Sheriff to appoint from amongst such\nof the persons in or in the vicinity of the court as are qualified\nand liable to serve, and not exempt from serving, as jurors in\na jury district as many persons as are sufficient to make up\n12 jurors; and\n\nPart VII Striking and empanelling jury\nDivision 2 Civil trials\nJuries Act 1962 14\n(b) the Sheriff, upon so doing, shall place the names of the jurors\nso appointed on the list.\n(3) Talesman are subject to challenge in accordance with this Act.\n(4) Upon the list being completed, the list shall be delivered by the\nSheriff successively to the plaintiff and to the defendant, each of\nwhom may strike out 4 names from the list.\n(5) If no more than 4 names then remain on the list, the persons\nwhose names so remain shall be the jury, but if more than 4 names\nthen remain on the list, the persons whose names are the first\n4 names so remaining shall be the jury.\n(6) The jurors so selected must take an oath under section 58 and be\nempanelled as the jurors for the trial.\n(9) In this section, the plaintiff includes the plaintiff's solicitor or\ncounsel and the defendant includes the defendant's solicitor or\ncounsel.\n40 Different issues may be tried by same jury\n(1) Where a jury has tried, or been drawn to try, a civil issue, the Court\nmay, if no objection is made on behalf of the plaintiff or defendant\nto another civil issue:\n(a) try that other issue with that jury; or\n(b) order the names of any jurors to the withdrawal of whom the\nparties consent, or who are justly challenged or excused by\nthe Court, to be set aside and other jurors to be selected in\ntheir stead and try that other issue with the residue of the\noriginal jury and with such jurors so selected as appear and\nare approved as indifferent.\n(2) The selection of jurors for the purposes of subsection (1)(b) shall\nbe made according to the procedure set out in section 39 for\nstriking a jury for the trial of a civil issue but so that the numbers\n\"12\" and \"4\" appearing in that section are replaced respectively by\nnumbers bearing to those numbers respectively the same ratio as\nthe number of jurors to be selected bears to the number \"4\".\n41 Reducing list where party does not appear\nWhere a plaintiff or defendant does not appear in person or by\ncounsel or solicitor, names on the list of jurors may be struck out on\nhis behalf under section 39(4) by the proper officer or by some\nother officer of the Court approved by the Court.\n\nPart VIII Challenge\nJuries Act 1962 15\nPart VIII Challenge\n42 Right of challenge\nSubject to the provisions of this Act, challenge to the array and to\nthe polls may be made and allowed for such and the like cause, in\nsuch and the like form and manner and under and subject to the\nlike laws, rules and regulations in every respect as by law was or\nwere established, used and practised in like cases in the Northern\nTerritory immediately before the commencement of this Act.\n43 Standing jurors by limited\nThe power of the Court on the trial of a criminal issue, at the\nrequest of the Crown, to order a juror to stand by is limited so that\nthe number of jurors so ordered to stand by shall not exceed 6.\n44 Challenge in criminal cases\n(1) Upon the trial of a criminal issue, the Crown and the person\narraigned or his counsel may each challenge peremptorily:\n(a) in the case of a capital offence – 12 jurors; and\n(b) in any other case – 6 jurors,\nand are not, except for cause shown, entitled to further challenges.\n(2) A peremptory challenge in excess of the number of peremptory\nchallenges allowed under subsection (1) is void and the trial shall\nproceed as if such a challenge had not been made.\n46 Challenge in civil cases\nSubject to section 39, a person is not entitled to challenge a juror\nupon the trial of a civil issue except for cause shown.\n47 Informalities in summoning jurors\n(1) An omission, error or irregularity by the Sheriff or any of his officers\nin the time and mode of service of a summons on a juror, or the\nsummoning or return of a juror by a wrong name (if there is no\nquestion as to identity) is not a cause of challenge either to the\narray or to the juror.\n(2) A matter which might have been objected by way of challenge to\nthe polls or to the array does not invalidate or affect any verdict in\nany case, civil or criminal, unless the objection is taken by way of\nchallenge.\n\nPart X Offences\nJuries Act 1962 16\nPart IX Disagreement\n49 Disagreement in civil cases\n(1) Where, upon the trial of a civil issue:\n(a) the jury has remained for a period of 6 hours or more in\ndeliberation;\n(b) the jurors are not unanimously agreed upon their verdict; and\n(c) 3 of the jurors are agreed upon the verdict to be given,\nthe decision of those 3 jurors shall be taken and entered as the\nverdict of all.\n(2) Where, upon the trial of a civil issue:\n(a) the jury has remained for 12 hours or more in deliberation;\nand\n(b) it is not possible to enter a verdict in accordance with\nsubsection (1),\nthe Court shall discharge the jury and the cause may without new\nprocess be again set down for trial, either at the same or any\nsubsequent sittings as the Court may order.\nPart X Offences\n49A Confidentiality of jury deliberations\n(1) This section applies in relation to juries in criminal, civil or coronial\nproceedings in a court of the Territory, the Commonwealth or a\nState or another Territory of the Commonwealth, whether instituted\nbefore or after the commencement of this section.\n(2) A person must not disclose protected information if the person is\naware that, in consequence of the disclosure, the information will,\nor is likely to, be published.\nMaximum penalty:\n(a) in the case of a natural person – 85 penalty units or\nimprisonment for 2 years;\n(b) in the case of a body corporate – 440 penalty units.\n\nPart X Offences\nJuries Act 1962 17\n(3) A person must not solicit or obtain protected information with the\nintention of publishing or facilitating the publication of that\ninformation.\nMaximum penalty:\n(a) in the case of a natural person – 85 penalty units or\nimprisonment for 2 years;\n(b) in the case of a body corporate – 440 penalty units.\n(4) A person must not publish protected information.\nMaximum penalty:\n(a) in the case of a natural person – 85 penalty units or\nimprisonment for 2 years;\n(b) in the case of a body corporate – 440 penalty units.\n(5) Subsection (2) does not prohibit disclosing protected information:\n(a) to a court; or\n(b) to a Royal Commission, Commission of Inquiry or Board of\nInquiry; or\n(c) to the Director of Public Prosecutions, a member of the staff\nof the Director's Office or a member of the Police Force for\nthe purpose of an investigation concerning an alleged\ncontempt of court or alleged offence relating to jury\ndeliberations; or\n(d) as part of a fair and accurate report of an investigation\nreferred to in paragraph (c); or\n(e) to a person in accordance with an authorisation granted by\nthe Attorney-General to conduct research into matters relating\nto juries or jury service; or\n(f) to a health practitioner in the course of the treatment of a\nperson in relation to issues arising out of the person's prior\nservice as a juror.\n(5A) A health practitioner to whom protected information is disclosed\nmust not disclose the information to anyone else unless it is\nnecessary for the health or welfare of the former juror.\nMaximum penalty: 85 penalty units or imprisonment for\n2 years.\n\nPart X Offences\nJuries Act 1962 18\n(6) Subsection (3) does not prohibit soliciting or obtaining protected\ninformation:\n(a) in the course of proceedings in a court;\n(b) by a Royal Commission, Commission of Inquiry or Board of\nInquiry;\n(c) by the Director of Public Prosecutions, a member of the staff\nof the Director's Office or a member of the Police Force for\nthe purpose of an investigation concerning an alleged\ncontempt of court or alleged offence relating to jury\ndeliberations;\n(d) by a person in accordance with an authorisation granted by\nthe Attorney-General to conduct research into matters relating\nto juries or jury service; or\n(e) by a legal practitioner for the purpose of giving advice in\nrelation to a matter referred to in paragraph (a), (b), (c) or (d).\n(7) Subsection (4) does not prohibit publishing protected information:\n(a) in accordance with an authorisation granted by the Attorney-\nGeneral to conduct research into matters relating to juries or\njury service; or\n(b) as part of a fair and accurate report of:\n(i) proceedings in respect of an alleged contempt of court,\nan alleged offence against this section or an alleged\noffence otherwise relating to jury deliberations;\n(ii) proceedings by way of appeal from proceedings referred\nto in subparagraph (i); or\n(iii) proceedings by way of appeal from proceedings in the\ncourse of which jury deliberations took place if the\nnature or circumstances of the deliberations is an issue\nrelevant to the appeal.\n(8) This section does not apply in relation to information about a\nprosecution for an alleged offence against this section if, before the\nprosecution was instituted, that information had been published\ngenerally to the public.\n(9) A prosecution for an alleged offence against this section is not to\nbe instituted except with the written consent of the Director of\nPublic Prosecutions or a person authorised by the Director for that\npurpose.\n\nPart X Offences\nJuries Act 1962 19\n(10) In this section:\nhealth practitioner means a medical practitioner or person\nregistered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law to\npractise in the psychology profession (other than as a student).\nprotected information means particulars of statements made,\nopinions expressed, arguments advanced and votes cast by\nmembers of a jury in the course of their deliberations, other than\nanything said or done in open court.\npublish, in relation to protected information, means communicate\nor disseminate the information in a way or to an extent that it is\navailable to, or likely to come to the notice of, the public or a\nmember of the public.\n49B Anonymity of jurors\n(1) Except with the leave of the court, a person must not, during the\ncourse of proceedings, publish or otherwise disclose information\nthat identifies, or is likely to identify, that person or any other person\nas a juror in those proceedings.\nMaximum penalty:\n(a) in the case of a natural person – 85 penalty units or\nimprisonment for 2 years;\n(b) in the case of a body corporate – 440 penalty units.\n(2) A person must not publish or otherwise disclose information that\nidentifies, or is likely to identify, another person as having been a\njuror in particular proceedings unless the other person has\nconsented to the publication or disclosure of that information.\nMaximum penalty:\n(a) in the case of a natural person – 85 penalty units or\nimprisonment for 2 years;\n(b) in the case of a body corporate – 440 penalty units.\n\nPart X Offences\nJuries Act 1962 20\n(3) A person must not solicit or obtain information that identifies, or is\nlikely to identify, another person as a juror, or as having been a\njuror, in particular proceedings with the intention of publishing or\nfacilitating the publication of that information.\nMaximum penalty:\n(a) in the case of a natural person – 85 penalty units or\nimprisonment for 2 years;\n(b) in the case of a body corporate – 440 penalty units.\n(4) Subsections (1) and (2) do not prohibit publishing identifying\ninformation:\n(a) in accordance with an authorisation granted by the Attorney-\nGeneral to conduct research into matters relating to juries or\njury service; or\n(b) as part of a fair and accurate report of:\n(i) proceedings in respect of an alleged contempt of court,\nan alleged offence against this section or an alleged\noffence otherwise relating to a juror's identity; or\n(ii) proceedings by way of appeal from proceedings referred\nto in subparagraph (i).\n(5) Subsections (1) and (2) do not prohibit disclosing identifying\ninformation:\n(a) to a court; or\n(b) to a Royal Commission, Commission of Inquiry or Board of\nInquiry; or\n(c) to the Director of Public Prosecutions, a member of the staff\nof the Director's Office or a member of the Police Force for\nthe purpose of an investigation concerning an alleged\ncontempt of court or alleged offence relating to a juror's\nidentity; or\n(d) as part of a fair and accurate report of an investigation\nreferred to in paragraph (c); or\n(e) to a person in accordance with an authorisation granted by\nthe Attorney-General to conduct research into matters relating\nto juries or jury service; or\n\nPart X Offences\nJuries Act 1962 21\n(f) to a legal practitioner for the purpose of obtaining advice in\nrelation to a matter referred to in paragraph (a), (b), (c), (d)\nor (e); or\n(g) to a health practitioner in the course of the treatment of a\nperson in relation to issues arising out of the person's prior\nservice as a juror.\n(5A) A health practitioner to whom protected information is disclosed\nmust not disclose the information to anyone else unless it is\nnecessary for the health or welfare of the former juror.\nMaximum penalty: 85 penalty units or imprisonment for\n2 years.\n(6) Subsection (3) does not prohibit soliciting or obtaining identifying\ninformation:\n(a) in the course of proceedings in a court;\n(b) by a Royal Commission, Commission of Inquiry or Board of\nInquiry;\n(c) by the Director of Public Prosecutions, a member of the staff\nof the Director's Office or a member of the Police Force for\nthe purpose of an investigation concerning an alleged\ncontempt of court or alleged offence relating to a juror's\nidentity; or\n(d) by a person in accordance with an authorisation granted by\nthe Attorney-General to conduct research into matters relating\nto juries or jury service.\n(7) This section does not apply in relation to information about a\nprosecution for an alleged offence against this section if, before the\nprosecution was instituted, that information had been published\ngenerally to the public.\n(8) A prosecution for an alleged offence against this section is not to\nbe instituted except with the written consent of the Director of\nPublic Prosecutions or a person authorised by the Director for that\npurpose.\n(9) In this section:\nhealth practitioner means a medical practitioner or person\nregistered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law to\npractise in the psychology profession (other than as a student).\n\nPart X Offences\nJuries Act 1962 22\nidentifying information means information that identifies, or is\nlikely to identify, a person as, or as having been, a juror in particular\nproceedings.\nproceedings means criminal, civil or coronial proceedings in a\ncourt of the Territory, the Commonwealth or a State or another\nTerritory of the Commonwealth, whether instituted before or after\nthe commencement of this section.\npublish, in relation to information, means communicate or\ndisseminate the information in a way or to an extent that it is\navailable to, or likely to come to the notice of, the public or a\nmember of the public.\n50 Non-attendance of jurors\nA person, other than a person who is at the material time excused\nfrom attendance as a juror by or under this Act, shall comply with a\nsummons to attend as a juror served on him under this Act.\nMaximum penalty: 4 penalty units.\n51 Non-attendance of talesman\nA talesman shall not:\n(a) fail to appear when required so to do by the Court; or\n(b) wilfully withdraw himself from the presence of the Court.\nMaximum penalty: 4 penalty units.\n52 Unlawful dismissal, &c.\nWhere a person is summoned in pursuance of a jury precept to\nattend upon the Court, whether he serves upon a jury or not, the\nperson in whose service he is employed, shall not:\n(a) dismiss that person from his service; or\n(b) act in any other way to the prejudice of that person in relation\nto his employment,\non account of that person's absence from his employment for the\npurposes of jury service.\nMaximum penalty: 40 penalty units or imprisonment for\n12 months.\n\nPart XI Miscellaneous\nJuries Act 1962 23\n54 Limit of 3 days in civil cases\nWhere a juror summoned, or a talesman appointed, for the trial of a\ncivil issue or issues has attended for 3 consecutive days, he is\nexcused from further attendance unless the Court otherwise orders.\n55 Personation of jurors\nA person shall not personate, or attempt to personate, a juror\nwhose name is on a panel of jurors for the purpose of sitting as that\njuror.\nMaximum penalty: 17 penalty units.\n56 Excess of fees\nA juror or reserve juror shall not, under pretence of receiving fees\nor remuneration for attending a trial, receive or take from any\nperson a sum in excess of the compensation which he is entitled to\nreceive under this Act for his attendance.\nMaximum penalty: 4 penalty units.\nPart XI Miscellaneous\n58 Oath by jurors\nJurors must take an oath in open court in accordance with the\nappropriate Form in Schedule 6.\n59 Oath of officer in charge of jury\nAn officer may take an oath, in accordance with the form in\nSchedule 6, to take charge of a jury.\n60 Payment of jurors\nA juror summoned in pursuance of a precept, or a talesman who\nattends the Court, is, for each day during his attendance upon the\nCourt, whether he has actually served upon a jury or not, entitled to\nreceive payment for his attendance at the prescribed rate.\n61 View during trial\n(1) In the trial of a civil issue with a jury, the Court may, at any time\nbefore the verdict of the jury, order a view of any place or property\nby the jury and may make all such orders upon the Sheriff or other\nperson, and give such directions as the Court thinks necessary, for\nthe purposes of the view.\n\nPart XI Miscellaneous\nJuries Act 1962 24\n(3) When a view is ordered on the trial of a civil issue, the Court may\ndirect that the expenses of the view shall be paid to such extent\nand by such person, in the first instance, as the Court orders.\n62 Reduction of jury\n(1) If in any trial of a civil issue, the Court is satisfied that by reason of\nillness or a matter of special urgency or importance a juror should\nbe excused from further attendance, the Court may order that the\njuror be excused from further attendance during the trial and such\nfurther period as the Court specifies.\n(2) Where a juror dies or is excused under subsection (1), the Court\nmay, if the number of jurors is reduced to not less than 3, order that\nthe trial shall proceed with the reduced number of jurors and the\ndecision of those jurors shall be taken and entered as the verdict of\nall.\n63 Food and refreshment\nIn any trial, the Court may, at any time after the jury has been\nempanelled and whether or not it has retired to consider its verdict,\norder that the jury be supplied with such food and refreshment as\nthe Court thinks fit and the Sheriff shall thereupon supply that food\nand refreshment at public expense.\n65 Abolition of certain juries\nSpecial juries and juries de medietate linguae are abolished.\n68 Regulations\n(1) The Administrator may make regulations, not inconsistent with this\nAct, prescribing all matters which are required or permitted by this\nAct to be prescribed or are necessary or convenient to be\nprescribed for giving effect to this Act.\n(2) Without limiting the generality of subsection (1), the Regulations\nmay provide for:\n(a) prescribing the fees to be paid under section 8;\n(b) prescribing the rates of payment under section 60;\n(c) prescribing the areas of land comprising respectively the jury\ndistricts of Darwin and Alice Springs; and\n(d) prescribing forms of acknowledgement, in answer to jury\nsummonses, to be completed and returned to the sheriff.\n\nPart XII Transitional matter for Criminal Justice Legislation Amendment Act 2011\nJuries Act 1962 25\nPart XII Transitional matter for Criminal Justice\nLegislation Amendment Act 2011\n69 Savings – exemption under section 11\nAn exemption in force under section 11(2) immediately before the\ncommencement of the amendment of that section by the Criminal\nJustice Legislation Amendment Act 2011 continues to have effect\nas if that amendment had not been made.\n\nSchedule 1 Repeals\nJuries Act 1962 26\nSchedule 1 Repeals\nsection 4\nPart I\nNumber of Act Act Extent of Repeal\nNo. 1 of 1862 The Jury Act, 1862 The whole\nNo. 3 of 1865 The Jury Amendment Act,\n1865\nThe whole\nNo. 7 of 1865-6 An Act to amend the Jury\nAct, 1862\nThe whole\nNo. 38 of 1876 The Criminal Law\nConsolidation Act, 1876\nSections 365, 366\nand 367, so far as they\napply to fines imposed\nupon jurors\nNo. 116 of 1878 Supreme Court Act, 1878 Sections 22, 23 and 24\nNo. 379 of 1886 The Jury Act Amendment\nAct, 1886\nThe whole\nNo. 511 of 1891 The Criminal Jurors Payment\nAct\nThe whole\nNo. 564 of 1893 An Act for the Continuance\nof Certain Juries and for\nother Purposes\nThe whole\nNo. 781 of 1902 The Jury Act Amendment\nAct, 1902\nThe whole\nNo. 878 of 1905 The Jury Act Amendment\nAct, 1905\nThe whole\nNo. 891 of 1905 The Juries Separation Act,\n1905\nThe whole\nNo. 923 of 1907 The Jury Act Further\nAmendment Act, 1907\nThe whole\n\nSchedule 1 Repeals\nJuries Act 1962 27\nPart II\nJury Ordinance 1912\nJury Ordinance 1919\nJury Ordinance (No. 2) 1919\nJury Ordinance 1926\nJury Ordinance 1936\nJury Ordinance 1938\nJury Ordinance 1952\nJury Ordinance 1953\nJury Ordinance 1954\nJurors and Witnesses Payment Ordinance 1947\nJurors and Witnesses Payment Ordinance 1952\n\nSchedule 3 Jury precept\nJuries Act 1962 28\nSchedule 3 Jury precept\nsection 25\nNORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA\nJURIES ACT 1962\nJURY PRECEPT\nTo the Sheriff,\nIn pursuance of the Juries Act 1962, I order you to summon before the\nSupreme Court of the Northern Territory of Australia to be held at the Court\nHouse at on the day of , 19 ,\npersons of the Territory qualified by law as jurors to make a\njury for all such matters as shall be required of them and to return into the\nSupreme Court on that date:\n(a) this precept;\n(b) the names of the jurors summoned;\n(c) proof of the service, and of the time and the manner of service,\nof a summons on each of those jurors; and\n(d) a statement showing the reason why each of the other jurors\nchosen to be summoned, but not summoned, were not served\nwith a summons.\nGiven under my hand and seal at\nthis day of , 19 .\nJudge\n\nSchedule 6 Oaths\nJuries Act 1962 29\nSchedule 6 Oaths\nsections 58 and 59\nOATH BY JUROR IN A CRIMINAL TRIAL\n\"I [promise/swear etc. as required by Oaths, Affidavits and Declarations\nAct 2010] to faithfully try the several issues joined between [Sovereign's name]\nand the inmate(s) at the bar and will give a true verdict according to the\nevidence. [So help me God! or as appropriate]\"\nOATH BY JUROR IN CIVIL TRIAL\n\"I [promise/swear etc. as required by Oaths, Affidavits and Declarations\nAct 2010] to faithfully try the issues and assess the damages in all causes that\nmay be brought before me for trial or inquiry and will give a true verdict\naccording to the evidence. [So help me God! or as appropriate]\"\nOATH OF OFFICER IN CHARGE OF JURY\n\"I [promise/swear etc. as required by Oaths, Affidavits and Declarations\nAct 2010] that I will keep this jury in my custody and suffer no one to speak to\nthem nor speak to them myself except on some necessary occasion having\nreference to their health, business or family affairs. [So help me God! or as\nappropriate]\"\n\nSchedule 7 Persons exempt from service as jurors\nJuries Act 1962 30\nSchedule 7 Persons exempt from service as jurors\nsection 11\nthe Administrator\nthe Administrator's official secretary\nthe secretary of the Executive Council\na person who holds, or has, within the previous 10 years, held, a\njudicial office\na spouse or a de facto partner of a Judge\na member of the Legislative Assembly\nthe Ombudsman, and an employee within the meaning of the Public\nSector Employment and Management Act 1993 who is employed in the\nOffice of the Ombudsman\na person regularly employed on duties on board aircraft used in aerial\nambulance services\na legal practitioner\nan articled clerk or graduate clerk of a legal practitioner\na clergyman in holy orders, a priest of the Roman Catholic faith and a\nminister of religion having an established congregation\na monk, nun or other vowed member of a religious community\na person registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National\nLaw:\n(a) to practise in the dental profession as a dentist (other than as a\nstudent); and\n(b) in the dentists division of that profession\na practising medical practitioner\na member of the Parole Board within the meaning of the Parole\nAct 1971\nthe secretary of the Parole Board within the meaning of the Parole\nAct 1971\na member of the Police Force of the Northern Territory\n\nSchedule 7 Persons exempt from service as jurors\nJuries Act 1962 31\na correctional services officer (as defined in section 4 of the\nCorrectional Services Act 2014)\nan employee as defined in the Public Sector Employment and\nManagement Act 1993 who is employed in an Agency primarily\nresponsible for law and the administration of justice, correctional\nservices or the administration of courts or who is under the direct\ncontrol of the Commissioner of Police\na person employed by the Legal Aid Commission within the meaning of\nthe Legal Aid Act 1990\nan employee as defined in the Public Sector Employment and\nManagement Act 1993 who is employed in the Office of the Director of\nPublic Prosecutions\na person with a disability as defined in section 2(1) of the Disability\nServices Act 1993 who, as a result of that disability, is incapable of\ndischarging the duties of a juror\na person who is not liable to serve as a juror by virtue of, or who is\nexempted from service as a juror under, the Jury Exemption Act 1965\nof the Commonwealth\n\nENDNOTES\nJuries Act 1962 32\nENDNOTES\n1 KEY Key to abbreviations\namd = amended od = order\napp = appendix om = omitted\nbl = by-law pt = Part\nch = Chapter r = regulation/rule\ncl = clause rem = remainder\ndiv = Division renum = renumbered\nexp = expires/expired rep = repealed\nf = forms s = section\nGaz = Gazette sch = Schedule\nhdg = heading sdiv = Subdivision\nins = inserted SL = Subordinate Legislation\nlt = long title sub = substituted\nnc = not commenced\n2 LIST OF LEGISLATION\nJuries Ordinance 1962 (Act No. 30, 1963)\nAssent date 8 May 1963\nCommenced 13 May 1963 (Gaz 18B, 7 May 1963, p 92B)\nJuries Ordinance 1963 (Act No. 33, 1963)\nAssent date 26 April 1963\nCommenced 13 May 1963 (s 2, s 2 Juries Ordinance 1962 (Act No. 30,\n1963) and Gaz 18B, 7 May 1963, p 92B)\nJuries Ordinance 1965 (Act No. 23, 1965)\nAssent date 16 August 1965\nCommenced 16 August 1965\nJuries Ordinance 1967 (Act No. 17, 1967)\nAssent date 22 June 1967\nCommenced 22 June 1967\nJuries Ordinance 1970 (Act No. 36, 1970)\nAssent date 1 October 1970\nCommenced 1 October 1970\nJuries Ordinance 1972 (Act No. 1, 1972)\nAssent date 13 March 1972\nCommenced 13 March 1972\n\nENDNOTES\nJuries Act 1962 33\nOrdinances Revision Ordinance 1973 (Act No. 87, 1973)\nAssent date 11 December 1973\nCommenced 11 December 1973 (s 12(2))\nAmending Legislation\nOrdinances Revision Ordinance 1974 (Act No. 34, 1974)\nAssent date 26 August 1974\nCommenced 11 December 1973 (s 3(2))\nOrdinances Revision Ordinance (No. 2) 1974 (Act No. 69, 1974)\nAssent date 24 October 1974\nCommenced 11 December 1973 (s 3)\nOrdinances Revision Ordinance 1976 (Act No. 27, 1976)\nAssent date 28 June 1976\nCommenced ss 1, 2 and 6: 28 June 1976 (s 6(2));\nss 3 and 4: 11 December 1973; s 5: 24 October 1974\nJuries Ordinance 1974 (Act No. 30, 1974)\nAssent date 26 August 1974\nCommenced 26 August 1974\nJuries Ordinance (No. 2) 1974 (Act No. 60, 1974)\nAssent date 15 October 1974\nCommenced 15 October 1974\nJuries Ordinance 1978 (Act No. 63, 1978)\nAssent date 1 July 1978\nCommenced 19 January 1979 (Gaz G3, 19 January 1979, p 4)\nStatute Law Revision Act 1978 (Act No. 95, 1978)\nAssent date 5 September 1978\nCommenced 5 September 1978\nJuries Act 1979 (Act No. 123, 1979)\nAssent date 15 October 1979\nCommenced 16 January 1980 (Gaz S3, 16 January 1980, p 1)\nJuries Act 1980 (Act No. 10, 1980)\nAssent date 12 February 1980\nCommenced 12 February 1980\nJuries Amendment Act 1982 (Act No. 51, 1982)\nAssent date 1 September 1982\nCommenced 10 December 1982 (Gaz G49, 10 December 1982, p 4)\nJuries (Criminal Code) Amendment Act 1983 (Act No. 63, 1983)\nAssent date 28 November 1983\nCommenced 1 January 1984 (s 2, s 2 Criminal Code Act 1983 (Act No. 47,\n1983), Gaz G46, 18 November 1983, p 11 and Gaz G8,\n26 February 1986, p 5)\nJuries Amendment Act 1987 (Act No. 49, 1987)\nAssent date 16 November 1987\nCommenced 16 November 1987\n\nENDNOTES\nJuries Act 1962 34\nStatute Law Revision Act (No. 2) 1987 (Act No. 59, 1987)\nAssent date 31 December 1987\nCommenced 31 December 1987\nJuries Amendment Act 1989 (Act No. 57, 1989)\nAssent date 2 October 1989\nCommenced 2 October 1989\nDirector of Public Prosecutions (Consequential Amendments) Act 1990 (Act No. 29,\n1990)\nAssent date 11 June 1990\nCommenced 21 January 1991 (s 2, s 2 Director of Public Prosecutions\nAct 1990 (Act No. 35, 1990) and Gaz G2, 16 January 1991,\np 9)\nJuries Amendment Act 1990 (Act No. 63, 1990)\nAssent date 14 December 1990\nCommenced 14 December 1990\nDental (Consequential Amendments) Act 1991 (Act No. 75, 1991)\nAssent date 10 December 1991\nCommenced 31 January 1992 (Gaz S7, 31 January 1992)\nJuries Amendment Act 1992 (Act No. 73, 1992)\nAssent date 14 December 1992\nCommenced 14 December 1992\nPublic Sector Employment and Management (Consequential Amendments) Act 1993\n(Act No. 28, 1993)\nAssent date 30 June 1993\nCommenced 1 July 1993 (s 2, s 2 Public Sector Employment and\nManagement Act 1993 (Act No. 11, 1993) and Gaz S53,\n29 June 1993)\nSentencing (Consequential Amendments) Act 1996 (Act No. 17, 1996)\nAssent date 19 April 1996\nCommenced 1 July 1996 (s 2, s 2 Sentencing Act 1995 (Act No. 39, 1995)\nand Gaz S15, 13 June 1996)\nJuries Amendment Act 1996 (Act No. 19, 1996)\nAssent date 17 June 1996\nCommenced 1 July 1997 (Gaz G25, 25 June 1997, p 2)\nStatute Law Revision Act 1996 (Act No. 42, 1996)\nAssent date 17 September 1996\nCommenced 17 September 1996\nJuries Amendment Act 1997 (Act No. 6, 1997)\nAssent date 26 March 1997\nCommenced 11 May 1997 (s 2, s 2 Criminal Code Amendment Act 1997\n(Act No. 4, 1997) and Gaz G18, 17 May 1997, p 2)\nJuries Amendment Act 1998 (Act No. 16, 1998)\nAssent date 30 March 1998\nCommenced 1 June 1998 (Gaz G18, 13 May 1998, p 2)\n\nENDNOTES\nJuries Act 1962 35\nLegal Aid Amendment Act 1998 (Act No. 78, 1998)\nAssent date 21 October 1998\nCommenced 1 January 1999 (Gaz G45, 18 November 1998, p 4)\nMental Health and Related Services (Consequential Amendments) Act 1999 (Act No. 11,\n1999)\nAssent date 25 March 1999\nCommenced 1 February 2000 (s 2, s 2 Mental Health and Related Services\nAct 1998 (Act No. 63, 1998) and Gaz G3, 26 January 2000,\np 2)\nStatute Law Revision Act 1999 (Act No. 27, 1999)\nAssent date 18 June 1999\nCommenced 18 June 1999\nStatute Law Revision Act 2000 (Act No. 19, 2000)\nAssent date 6 June 2000\nCommenced s 6: 4 December 1999 (s 2); rem: 12 July 2000 (Gaz G27,\n12 July 2000, p 2)\nStatute Law Revision Act (No. 2) 2002 (Act No. 59, 2002)\nAssent date 7 November 2002\nCommenced 7 November 2002\nLaw Reform (Gender, Sexuality and De Facto Relationships) Act 2003 (Act No. 1, 2004)\nAssent date 7 January 2004\nCommenced 17 March 2004 (Gaz G11, 17 March 2004, p 8)\nElectoral (Consequential Amendments) Act 2004 (Act No. 12, 2004)\nAssent date 1 March 2004\nCommenced 15 March 2004 (s 2, s 2 Electoral Act 2004 (Act No. 11, 2004)\nand Gaz S6, 15 March 2004)\nStatute Law Revision Act 2005 (Act No. 44, 2005)\nAssent date 14 December 2005\nCommenced 14 December 2005\nDefamation Act 2006 (Act No. 8, 2006)\nAssent date 26 April 2006\nCommenced 26 April 2006\nJustice Legislation Amendment Act 2007 (Act No. 5, 2007)\nAssent date 24 April 2007\nCommenced s 37 (except amd of Criminal Code and Legal Profession\nAct 2006): 1 May 2007; rem: 24 April 2007 (s 2(1), s 2 Victims\nof Crime Assistance Act 2006 (Act No. 15, 2006) and Gaz\nG17, 26 April 2007, p 7)\nLegal Profession (Consequential Amendments) Act 2007 (Act No. 7, 2007)\nAssent date 17 May 2007\nCommenced s 10: 1 July 2007 (s 2(1)); rem: 17 May 2007 (Gaz G26,\n27 June 2007, p 3)\n\nENDNOTES\nJuries Act 1962 36\nJustice Legislation Amendment Act 2008 (Act No. 2, 2008)\nAssent date 11 March 2008\nCommenced pt 6: 1 May 2008 (Gaz G17, 30 April 2008, p 5);\nrem: 2 April 2008 (Gaz G13, 2 April 2008, p 6)\nJustice Legislation Amendment (Penalties) Act 2010 (Act No. 12, 2010)\nAssent date 20 May 2010\nCommenced 1 July 2010 (Gaz G24, 16 June 2010, p 2)\nHealth Practitioner (National Uniform Legislation) Implementation Act 2010 (Act No. 18,\n2010)\nAssent date 20 May 2010\nCommenced 1 July 2010 (s 2)\nOaths, Affidavits and Declarations (Consequential Amendments) Act 2010 (Act No. 40,\n2010)\nAssent date 18 November 2010\nCommenced 1 March 2011 (s 2, s 2 Oaths, Affidavits and Declarations\nAct 2010 (Act No. 39, 2010) and Gaz G7, 16 February 2011,\np 4)\nCriminal Justice Legislation Amendment Act 2011 (Act No. 32, 2011)\nAssent date 15 November 2011\nCommenced 15 February 2012 (Gaz G7, 15 February 2012, p 6)\nCorrectional Services (Related and Consequential Amendments) Act 2014 (Act No. 27,\n2014)\nAssent date 4 September 2014\nCommenced 9 September 2014 (Gaz S80, 9 September 2014, p 2)\nLocal Court (Related Amendments) Act 2016 (Act No. 8, 2016)\nAssent date 6 April 2016\nCommenced 1 May 2016 (s 2, s 2 Local Court (Repeals and Related\nAmendments) Act 2016 (Act No. 9, 2016) and Gaz S34,\n29 April 2016)\nAdvance Personal Planning Amendment Act 2016 (Act No. 13, 2016)\nAssent date 7 June 2016\nCommenced 28 July 2016 (s 2, s 2 Guardianship of Adults Act 2016 (Act\nNo. 15, 2016) and Gaz S74, 27 July 2016, p 1)\nGuardianship of Adults Act 2016 (Act No. 15, 2016)\nAssent date 7 June 2016\nCommenced 28 July 2016 (Gaz S74, 27 July 2016, p 1)\nSupreme Court Amendment (Associate Judges) Act 2017 (Act No. 18, 2017)\nAssent date 5 September 2017\nCommenced 22 November 2017 (Gaz S84, 21 November 2017, p 1)\nExpungement of Historical Homosexual Offence Records Act 2018 (Act No. 8, 2018)\nAssent date 23 May 2018\nCommenced 14 November 2018 (Gaz G46, 14 November 2018, p 1)\nStatute Law Revision Act 2018 (Act No. 10, 2018)\nAssent date 23 May 2018\nCommenced 20 June 2018 (Gaz S41, 20 June 2018)\n\nENDNOTES\nJuries Act 1962 37\nJustice and Licensing Legislation Further Amendment Act 2022 (Act No. 21, 2022)\nAssent date 31 October 2022\nCommenced pt 3: 1 February 2023; rem: 21 December 2022 (Gaz G50,\n21 December 2022, p 1)\nCriminal Code Amendment (Age of Criminal Responsibility) Act 2022 (Act No. 30, 2022)\nAssent date 16 December 2022\nCommenced 1 August 2023 (Gaz S50, 24 July 2023)\nStatute Law Amendment (Succession of the Crown) Act 2023 (Act No. 10, 2023)\nAssent date 20 April 2023\nCommenced 21 April 2023 (s 2)\n3 SAVINGS AND TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS\ns 9 Juries Ordinance 1974 (Act No. 30, 1974)\ns 6 Juries Ordinance (No. 2) 1974 (Act No. 60, 1974)\ns 13(2) Juries Act 1979 (Act No. 123, 1979)\ns 4 Juries Amendment Act 1982 (Act No. 51, 1982)\ns 4 Juries Amendment Act 1990 (Act No. 63, 1990)\n4 GENERAL AMENDMENTS\nGeneral amendments of a formal nature (which are not referred to in the table\nof amendments to this reprint) are made by the Ordinances Revision\nOrdinance 1973 (Act No. 87, 1973) (as amended) to the following provisions:\nss 4 – 8, 11, 14, 17, 21, 23, 25, 28-33, 37, 39 – 41, 44, 46, 48 – 59, 61, 62,\n66 – 68 and Second to Fifth schs.\n5 GENERAL AMENDMENTS\nGeneral amendments of a formal nature (which are not referred to in the table\nof amendments to this reprint) are made by the Interpretation Legislation\nAmendment Act 2018 (Act No. 22, 2018) to: ss 1, 5 and 10 and Sch 3, 6\nand 7.\n6 CORRECTED PROVISION\nSection 10(1) and (3)(c) as amended by the Juries Amendment Act 1989 (Act\nNo. 57, 1989) was incorrectly revised in reprints as at the commencement of\nthat amendment Act until and including the reprint printed as in force at\n2 April 2008.\n6 LIST OF AMENDMENTS\nlt amd No. 57, 1989, s 18\nss 1 – 2 amd No. 57, 1989, s 18\ns 3 rep No. 123, 1979, s 4\ns 4 amd No. 123, 1979, s 5; No. 57, 1989, s 18\n\nENDNOTES\nJuries Act 1962 38\ns 5 amd No. 30, 1974, s 3; No. 123, 1979, ss 6 and 15; No. 51, 1982, s 5; No. 57,\n1989 s 18; No. 73, 1992, s 3; No. 19, 1996, s 4; No. 19, 2000, s 5; No. 12,\n2004, s 6; No. 8, 2016, s 45; No. 18, 2017, s 36\ns 6 amd No. 57, 1989, s 18\ns 6A ins No. 8, 2006, s 54\ns 7 amd No. 23, 1965, s 2\nsub No. 17, 1967, s 2\namd No. 57, 1989, s 18; No. 8, 2006, s 55\ns 8 sub No. 17, 1967, s 2\namd No. 123, 1979, s 15; No. 40, 2010, s 52\ns 9 sub No. 30, 1974, s 4\namd No. 123, 1979, s 15\nsub No. 57, 1989, s 3\ns 10 sub No. 123, 1979, s 7\namd No. 57, 1989, s 4; No. 17, 1996, s 6; No. 11, 1999, s 4; No. 27, 2014,\ns 57; No. 15, 2016, s 117; No. 13, 2016, s 35; No. 8, 2018, s 37; No. 30,\n2022, s 12\ns 11 amd No. 36, 1970, s 2; No. 1, 1972, s 2; No. 30, 1974, s 5; No. 60, 1974, s 3;\nNo. 63, 1978, s 4\nsub No. 123, 1979, s 8\namd No. 57, 1989, s 18\nsub No. 2, 2008, s 10\namd No. , 2011, s16\ns 11A ins No. 30, 1974, s 6\nsub No. 123, 1979, s 8\nrep No. 57, 1989, s 5\ns 12 amd No. 57, 1989, s 6\ns 13 amd No. 40, 2010, s 53\ns 14 sub No. 57, 1989, s 7\ns 15 amd No. 123, 1979, s 15\nsub No. 57, 1989, s 7\namd No. 18, 2017, s 36; No. 10, 2018, s 6\nss 16 – 17 amd No. 123, 1979, s 15\nrep No. 57, 1989, s 7\ns 17A ins No. 51, 1982, s 6\namd No. 57, 1989, s 8; No. 18, 2017, s 36\ns 18 amd No. 123, 1979, s 15\nrep No. 57, 1989, s 9\ns 18A ins No. 123, 1979, s 9\namd No. 51, 1982, s 7\nrep No. 57, 1989, s 9\ns 18AB ins No. 51, 1982, s 8\namd No. 57, 1989, s 18\ns 19 amd No. 57, 1989, s 18\ns 20 amd No. 30, 1974, s 7\nsub No. 60, 1974, s 4\ns 21 amd No. 23, 1965, s 3; No. 30, 1974, s 8; No. 51, 1982, s 9; No. 57, 1989,\ns 10; No. 63, 1990, s 2\ns 22 rep No. 57, 1989, s 11\ns 22A ins No. 51, 1982, s 10\nrep No. 57, 1989, s 11\ns 24 amd No. 123, 1979, s 15\ns 25 amd No. 123, 1979, s 15; No. 57, 1989, s 18\ns 26 amd No. 123, 1979, s 15\ns 27 amd No. 123, 1979, s 15; No. 51, 1982, s 11\nsub No. 57, 1989, s 12\ns 27A ins No. 123, 1979, s 10\namd No. 57, 1989, s 18; No. 18, 2017, s 36\n\nENDNOTES\nJuries Act 1962 39\ns 28 amd No. 33, 1963, s 3; No. 23, 1965, s 4; No. 123, 1979, s 15\nrep No. 51, 1982, s 12\ns 29 amd No. 57, 1989, s 18; No. 27, 1999, s 5\nss 30 – 31 amd No. 123, 1979, s 15\nrep No. 51, 1982, s 13\ns 32 amd No. 123, 1979, s 15\nsub No. 51, 1982, s 14\namd No. 57, 1989, s 13; No. 73, 1992, s 4; No. 19, 1996, s 5; No. 19, 2000,\ns 5\ns 33 amd No. 123, 1979, s 15; No. 51, 1982, s 15; No. 57, 1989, s 14; No. 19,\n1996, s 6; No. 19, 2000, s 5\ns 36 amd No. 123, 1979, s 15; No. 57, 1989, s 18; No. 18, 2017, s 36\npt VII hdg amd No. 40, 2010, s 54\ns 37 amd No. 51, 1982, s 16; No. 57, 1989, s 18; No. 29, 1990, s 7; No. 73, 1992,\ns 5; No. 19, 1996, s 7; No. 19, 2000, s 5; No. 40, 2010, s 55; No. 27, 2014,\ns 57\ns 37A ins No. 51, 1982, s 17\namd No. 6, 1997, s 3\ns 38 amd No. 29, 1990, s 7; No. 19, 1996, s 8; No. 19, 2000, s 5\ns 39 amd No. 57, 1989, s 18; No. 19, 1996, s 9; No. 19, 2000, s 5; No. 40, 2010,\ns 56\ns 40 amd No. 123, 1979, s 15; No. 19, 1996, s 10\ns 41 amd No. 123, 1979, s 15\ns 42 amd No. 57, 1989, s 18\ns 43 sub No. 51, 1982, s 18\namd No. 29, 1990, s 7\ns 45 rep No. 63, 1983, s 4\ns 48 sub No. 123, 1979, s 11\namd No. 51, 1982, s 19\nrep No. 63, 1983, s 4\ns 49A ins No. 16, 1998, s 3\namd No. 5, 2007, s 20; No. 12, 2010, s 3; No. 18, 2010, s 89\ns 49B ins No. 16, 1998, s 3\namd No. 5, 2007, s 21; No. 12, 2010, s 3; No. 18, 2010, s 89\ns 50 amd No. 57, 1989, s 18; No. 12, 2010, s 3\ns 51 amd No. 123, 1979, s 15; No. 57, 1989, s 18; No. 12, 2010, s 3\ns 52 rep No. 57, 1989, s 15\nins No. 73, 1992, s 6\namd No. 12, 2010, s 3\ns 53 amd No. 123, 1979, s 15\nrep No. 57, 1989, s 15\ns 55 amd No. 57, 1989, s 18; No. 12, 2010, s 3\ns 56 amd No. 51, 1982, s 20; No. 57, 1989, s 18; No. 12, 2010, s 3\ns 57 amd No. 51, 1982, s 21\nrep No. 63, 1983, s 4\ns 58 amd No. 57, 1989, s 18; No. 40, 2010, s 57\ns 59 sub No. 57, 1989, s 16\namd No. 40, 2010, s 58\ns 61 amd No. 123, 1979, s 15; No. 63, 1983, s 5\ns 62 amd No. 33, 1963, s 4; No. 123, 1979, s 12; No. 51, 1982, s 22; No. 63, 1983,\ns 6\ns 63 amd No. 40, 2010, s 59\ns 64 amd No. 10, 1980, s 2\nrep No. 63, 1983, s 7\ns 66 amd No. 57, 1989, s 18\nrep No. 40, 2010, s 60\ns 67 rep No. 123, 1979, s 13\ns 68 amd No. 60, 1974, s 5; No. 95, 1978, s 14\nsub No. 51, 1982, s 23\n\nENDNOTES\nJuries Act 1962 40\npt XII hdg ins No. 32, 2011, s 17\ns 69 ins No. 32, 2011, s 17\nsch 1 amd No. 57, 1989, s 18; No. 21, 2022, s 6\nsch 2 rep No. 57, 1989, s 18\nsch 3 amd No. 57, 1989, s 18; No. 21, 2022, s 7\nsch 4 amd No. 57, 1989, s 18\nrep No. 27, 1999, s 5\nsch 5 rep No. 57, 1989, s 18\nsch 6 amd No. 63, 1983, s 8; No. 59, 1987, s 5; No. 57, 1989, ss 17 and 18; No. 40,\n2010, s 61; No. 21, 2022, s 8; No. 10, 2023, s 5\nsch 7 ins No. 123, 1979, s 14\namd No. 52, 1982, s 24; No. 49, 1987, s 2; No. 57, 1989, s 18; No. 29, 1990,\ns 4; No. 75, 1991, s 3; No. 73, 1992, s 7; No. 28, 1993, s 3; No. 42, 1996, s 6;\nNo. 6, 1997, s 4; No. 78, 1998, s 14; No. 59, 2002, s 5; No. 1, 2004, s 62;\nNo. 44, 2005, s 22; No. 7, 2007, s 16; No. 2, 2008, s 11; No. 18, 2010, s 89;\nNo. 27, 2014, s 57; No. 21, 2022, s 9","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":7,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"Yes. The Act has changed from its original 1962 form through multiple amendments that alter scope and procedure. Notable scope changes in the current text include: the removal of juries in civil defamation proceedings (s 6A; s6A inserted by Defamation Act 2006 per endnotes), a civil jury where ordered now being four jurors (s 7(4); s7 amended in 2006 per endnotes), the introduction of statutory confidentiality and anonymity protections and new criminal offences for disclosure/identification of jurors and deliberations (ss 49A, 49B; these sections were inserted and later amended — see endnotes referencing insertion No. 16, 1998, s 3 and subsequent amendments), treatment of expunged convictions as never having occurred for juror eligibility (s 10(2A) — added in connection with the Expungement of Historical Homosexual Offence Records Act 2018, see endnotes listing amendments to s 10), and the formal requirement that jurors be chosen by random computer selection (s 27; s27 and related procedures reflect later amendments referenced in the endnotes). These are concrete, source-identified adjustments to who may sit, how juries are formed and what protections and penalties attach to juror identity and deliberations."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple interlocking processes (precept issuance by Chief Justice, random computer selection by Sheriff, serving, empanelling, challenges and reserve jurors) across different sections (ss 24, 27, 29–33, 37–39, 37A).","Numerous categorical exemptions and disqualifications with cross-references to other Acts and schedules (ss 10–11; sch 7), creating many eligibility permutations.","Civil–criminal divergence: different jury sizes and fee rules for civil trials (s 7(4), s 8) versus a fixed 12-person criminal jury (s 6), plus special rules for defamation (s 6A).","Statutory offences and high penalties for confidentiality and identification of jurors with various exceptions and prosecutorial consent requirements (ss 49A, 49B).","Significant delegated discretion: Judges/Associate Judges can excuse jurors or impose future service; Sheriff/Deputy Sheriffs have questioning/exemption powers (ss 15, 17A, 27A, 18AB).","Operational dependency on prescribed procedures and delegated regulations (s 27, s 68) — selection ‘by computer in the prescribed manner’ and many prescribed fees/forms/rates.","Extensive amendment history and cross-references listed in endnotes and schedules, requiring attention to versioning and transitional savings (endnotes; pt XII; schs)."],"plain_english_summary":"What this law does (mechanics)\n\n- Sets the rules for jury trials in the Northern Territory Supreme Court, including how many jurors sit in criminal and civil trials, who may be summoned, how jurors are selected and summoned, and what happens during empanelling, challenges and deliberations (see ss 6, 7, 24–33, 37–41, 42–47).\n\n- Requires the Chief Justice to issue jury precepts (orders to summon jurors) and gives the Sheriff responsibility for selecting and serving jurors. The Sheriff must select jurors by random computer selection in the prescribed manner (s 24, s 27). The Sheriff or an authorised Deputy may question prospective jurors about English literacy and report concerns to a Judge (s 27A(3)–(4)).\n\n- Specifies who is qualified, who is disqualified and who is exempt from jury service (ss 9–13, sch 7). People on the electoral roll who are not exempt are liable for service (s 9); particular disqualifications include recent imprisonment or certain guardianship/mental-health statuses (s 10). Schedule 7 lists categories permanently exempt (for example certain public office-holders and legal practitioners).\n\n- Provides a procedure for empanelling juries in criminal and civil trials, including ballots, peremptory and cause challenges, reserve jurors for criminal trials, and the oath requirements (ss 32, 37–39, 37A, 42–46, 58; sch 6).\n\n- Limits and fees for civil juries: defamation actions are to be tried without a jury (s 6A). If the Court orders a civil issue tried by jury, the jury is four jurors and the party requesting the jury must pay a prescribed jury fee to the Sheriff; failure to pay may lead to discharge of the jury and trial proceeding without one (s 7(4), s 8).\n\n- Protects the secrecy and, in many circumstances, the anonymity of jurors. It creates criminal offences and penalties for disclosing, soliciting or publishing details of jury deliberations or identifying jurors, subject to limited exceptions (ss 49A, 49B).\n\n- Sets basic entitlements and protections for jurors: daily attendance payment at prescribed rates, a limit on civil trial attendance (excused after 3 consecutive days unless the Court orders otherwise), employer protections against dismissal or prejudice for jury service, and courts’ power to provide food/refreshment and order views (ss 54, 60, 62, 63, 52).\n\nWho pays, who decides, and how behaviour changes (in plain terms)\n\n- Who pays: a party who successfully asks for a civil jury must pay a prescribed jury fee to the Sheriff (s 8). The public pays jurors’ daily attendance payments and court-ordered view expenses unless the Court orders otherwise (ss 60, 61(3)).\n\n- Who decides: the Chief Justice issues jury precepts and gives written directions on selection procedures (ss 24, 37(1)); Judges and Associate Judges may excuse jurors or impose conditions on excusal (ss 15, 17A). The Sheriff executes the precept: random selection, serving summonses and assembling panels (ss 27, 29–33).\n\n- Behaviour changes required: eligible persons must attend when summoned (s 50); employers must not dismiss or prejudice employees summoned to serve (s 52); jurors must keep deliberations confidential and not be publicly identified except under narrow exceptions (ss 49A, 49B). Non-compliance carries statutory penalties (see ss 49A–49B, s 50, s 52).\n\nCosts, incentives, trade-offs and implementation points (source-grounded)\n\n- Concentrated benefits and exemptions: Schedule 7 creates a set of named exempt classes (public office-holders, legal practitioners, certain health professionals and law-enforcement employees). Those listed avoid jury service entirely; that is a clear, concentrated legal exclusion (sch 7).\n\n- Fee-shifting and private cost: a party who seeks a civil jury pays the prescribed jury fee (s 8). The Court may later order that fee to be costs in the cause (s 8(5)), shifting the private cost between parties depending on outcome.\n\n- Administrative discretion and compliance burden: Judges and Associate Judges have discretion to excuse jurors or impose conditions requiring later service (ss 15, 17A). The Sheriff has powers to question jurors for English proficiency and to excuse those recently served (s 27A, s 18AB); those exercises of discretion create operational tasks and potential points of inconsistency.\n\n- Implementation and operational risk: selection by random computer (s 27) requires a prescribed method and reliable administration. Balloting, panels and reserve jurors add procedural complexity on sitting days (ss 32, 37, 37A).\n\n- Confidentiality/anonymity offences: ss 49A and 49B impose significant penalties for disclosure or identification of jurors and for publishing jury deliberations, but they also include defined exceptions (courts, certain investigations, authorised research, health practitioners) and a requirement for prosecutorial consent (s 49A(9), s 49B(8)).\n\nOpportunity costs and substitution effects\n\n- Removing juries in defamation matters (s 6A) substitutes judge-alone trials for jury trials in that category, changing the demand for jurors in those proceedings and altering the decision-making body in such cases.\n\n- The reduction to four jurors for civil trials when ordered (s 7(4)) alters the threshold for group deliberation in civil matters and changes how parties evaluate seeking a jury trial (fees, verdict dynamics).\n\nKey references in the Act: selection and precepts (ss 24, 27, 27A), qualifications/exemptions (ss 9–13, sch 7), civil jury fee (s 8), jury sizes (ss 6, 7), empanelling and reserve jurors (ss 32, 37, 37A, 39), confidentiality and anonymity (ss 49A, 49B), juror payments and protections (ss 52, 60), and regulation-making powers (s 68)."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":5,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The original 1962 Act was a relatively straightforward procedural statute about jury selection and empanelment. Over 60+ years of amendments, it has expanded significantly beyond this core function. Major scope expansions include: (1) detailed secrecy and anonymity provisions (sections 49A-49B) creating criminal offences for disclosure of deliberations and juror identities; (2) complex disqualification rules incorporating modern sentencing regimes, mental health laws, and guardianship; (3) employer protection provisions; (4) reserve juror systems; (5) computerised random selection; and (6) extensive cross-referencing to modern statutory schemes (health practitioners, electoral law, etc.). The Act has evolved from a simple 'how to form a jury' law into a comprehensive regime governing juror privacy, digital selection methods, and intersection with multiple other statutory frameworks."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple overlapping categories of exclusion: disqualification (section 10), exemption (section 11 and Schedule 7), excusal by judges (section 15), and excusal by Sheriff (section 18AB)","Complex conditional logic in section 10 regarding completion of prison sentences — includes parole, remission, suspension with conditions, and unconditional suspension, plus expungement provisions","Extensive cross-referencing to other Acts: Electoral Act 2004, Criminal Code, Sentencing Act 1995, Guardianship of Adults Act 2016, Mental Health and Related Services Act 1998, etc.","Different procedural rules for criminal vs civil trials throughout (12 jurors vs 4, different challenge rules, different disagreement rules)","Nested exceptions in the offence provisions (sections 49A and 49B) with multiple layers of permitted disclosures to courts, commissions, health practitioners, researchers, etc.","Historical layering: references to repealed South Australian Acts and old Ordinances in Schedule 1, plus transitional provisions in Part XII","Terminology requiring legal knowledge: 'talesman', 'challenge to the array', 'peremptory challenge', 'empanelled', 'standing jurors by'","Mathematical ratio calculation in section 40(2) for selecting replacement jurors in civil trials"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this law does:**\n\nThis is the Northern Territory's main law about how juries work in criminal and civil trials. It sets out everything from who can be a juror to how they're selected, paid, and protected.\n\n**Key things it covers:**\n\n*   **Who serves:** Generally, if you're on the electoral roll (voters list), you can be called for jury duty. But there are exceptions — you're disqualified if you've served serious prison time recently, have certain mental health conditions, or are under guardianship. People over 70 can opt out permanently.\n*   **Who's exempt:** Schedule 7 lists people who never have to serve — including judges, lawyers, police, politicians, doctors, dentists, clergy, and certain public servants.\n*   **Criminal trials:** Serious crimes are tried by 12 jurors chosen randomly from the electoral roll. The law allows for \"reserve jurors\" (up to 3 extras) in case someone drops out during a long trial.\n*   **Civil trials:** Defamation cases *cannot* use juries. Other civil cases normally don't use juries either, but a party can ask for one, or a judge can order one if it seems fair. Civil juries only have 4 members, and parties must pay a fee to get one.\n*   **Selection process:** The Sheriff randomly selects people by computer, sends summonses, and prepares panels of jurors. In court, lawyers can challenge (object to) certain jurors. In criminal cases, each side gets a limited number of \"peremptory challenges\" (objections without needing a reason) — 12 for murder/life sentence cases, 6 for other crimes.\n*   **Protections:** The law has strict secrecy rules (sections 49A and 49B). It's a crime to reveal what jurors discussed during deliberations or to identify jurors publicly. This protects jurors from harassment and keeps jury discussions confidential.\n*   **Employer protection:** Your boss can't sack you or punish you for doing jury duty.\n*   **Payment:** Jurors get paid for each day they attend, whether they're actually picked for a trial or not.\n\n**Why it matters:**\n\nThis law ensures trials are decided by ordinary citizens rather than government officials alone, while balancing that against practical needs (like protecting vulnerable people from serving, ensuring juror safety, and keeping the system efficient). The secrecy provisions are particularly important — they allow jurors to debate cases freely without fear their private discussions will become public or that they'll face backlash for unpopular verdicts."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/juries-act-1962","history":"/api/acts/juries-act-1962/history","analysis":"/api/acts/juries-act-1962/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/juries-act-1962/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/juries-act-1962/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/juries-act-1962/documents"}}