Verdict's in: 70 fine for jurors

Courtesey The Advertiser 24th Feb 2016

People aged 70 and older will be allowed to act as jurors on court cases, but will have the right to refuse.

South Australia is the only Australian jurisdiction that caps jury service at 70.

The Council on the Ageing has previously written to Attorney-General John Rau to say the age limit is discriminatory and urge that it be abolished.

Mr Rau will today introduce a Bill to remove the age limit, making about 200,000 more South Australians, in the 70-plus age group, eligible for jury duty.

Mr Rau said it would provide those people "with the choice of completing jury service if called, therefore avoiding an undue burden on retirees".

New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, the Northern Territory and Tasmania all allow people over a particular age - between 60 and 70 years old - to opt out of jury duty.

COTA SA chief executive Jane Mussared said her organisation first contacted Mr Rau about the issue in August and she was pleased he had moved so quickly to remove the age limit.

COTA was alerted to the anomaly by Year 12 students from St John's Grammar School, who were undertaking a legal studies course with a COTA member.

"There's a point of principle here," Ms Mussared said.

"It removes a bit of discrimination and it means that our juries will now better reflect our community.