What is Jury Duty?
In British Columbia, a person accused of committing certain serious crimes has the right to a trial before their peers in the community. The group of peers who decide whether the accused is guilty or not guilty is called a jury. When you serve as a member of a jury, the service is called jury duty and you are called a juror. As a juror, your role is important because your unbiased opinion contributes to a fair trial.
All jury trials are held in B.C. Supreme Court.
Those selected to become jurors are selected at random from the roster of the Elections BC list (provincial voters list). You may be selected to serve on a jury more than once. See Jury Panels for more information.
Usually, there are 12 people on the jury for criminal trials and eight people for civil trials. You will be asked to listen and see all the evidence given at the trial and come to a conclusion of not guilty or guilty. This decision is called the “verdict.”
Jury duty may be a new experience for you but you will be guided step-by-step so you know exactly what is expected of you, what you need to do at the trial, what compensation or allowances you may receive and your rights. You will also be instructed on how you are to participate as an individual (juror) and as a group (jury).
More Information
For more information about French-language jury panels, see Procès Avec Jury Francophone.
