The selection of jurors in the higher courts of queensland

Abstract

The rejection and acceptance decisions of eight barristers during jury selections in two attempted murder cases and two cases involving the possession of dangerous drugs before the Supreme Court in Queensland, together with demographic and physical characteristics of 163 potential jurors, were recorded to discover whether patterns of jury selection were similar in Queensland to those believed to exist in the United States and Canada. Results suggested that each type of barrister had a profile of characteristics of potential jurors believed prejudicial to his case, and these people were systematically challenged. Profiles changed according to the case and the behaviour of the other barrister, with many of these profiles being different to those found overseas.