Comment on JUSTICE Consultation on the Scottish Jury Research Findings

JUSTICE Scotland have now submitted their response to the Scottish Government on the recent Mock Jury Research findings. Whilst noting that the Research is an interesting piece of work, providing insight into the relationship between three unique elements of the Scottish jury system and the effect that these may have on jury decision making and trial outcomes, they do not consider that the findings should be used as the basis for reforming any of the three aspects of the jury system studied, namely jury size, majority or the not proven option. They express concerns about isolated reform and voice the need to carry out systematic research with more clearly focussed aims.