Chief Justice Bryan Sykes, in advocating for better treatment of jurors, has stressed that better accommodations and payment arrangements are needed if the Government plans to retain the jury system.

There have been multiple reports of issues affecting the jury system in Jamaica, which have resulted in low juror turnout, especially in rural areas. Among those issues highlighted are the payment and accommodation of jurors.

Speaking at the ceremony for swearing-in of judges of appeal, puisne judges, and masters-in-chambers today, Sykes shared that many persons who turn up for jury duty are low-income earners who often cannot afford the expenses of travelling to the courts to serve.

“The system is that, in essence, they have to fund their travels and bear the expenses. Under the present system, only those who are selected as jurors receive a stipend at the end of it. So, all of those who travel from the border regions of the parish, coming down to the court who are not selected as jurors, there is no stipend [for them] to get,” the chief justice explained.

Additionally, he pointed out that jurors are only paid for the days they actually sit in court, another feature he believes has reduced the enthusiasm of citizens to participate in the system.

Jurors currently receive a stipend of J$2,000 per day, up from J$500 per day in 2015. Before 2015, the last time the juror stipend increased was in 1998.

Addressing the issue in October last year, Minister of Justice Delroy Chuck said a proposal for an increase in juror stipend would soon be taken to Cabinet for approval after months of delays. However, there has been no update since then on the matter.

Reinitiating the call for an increase in juror stipend, Sykes said, “We have to revisit how we manage the jury system. If we are going to keep it, then we have to do significantly better than we’re doing.”

“They come, and they serve in many difficult and uncomfortable circumstances, standing under trees outside of many of our courtrooms, and if the rain falls, then that presents its own challenges. The rooms that they are asked to retire to, to deliberate, are oftentimes cramped and uncomfortable. So, if we’re going to retain the jury system, then we really need to treat our citizens much better,” he stressed.

He further noted that a significant number of jurors do not have bank accounts, yet they are paid with cheques. This payment option, he said, sees jurors receiving even less when they are charged a service fee to clear the cheques.

Low juror turnout has been an issue plaguing the justice system since the COVID-19 pandemic, with financial issues at the forefront.