Right to a Representative Jury

From Criminal Law Notebook

General Principles

See also: Jury Selection

The right to a "representative jury" is found within s. 11(d) [right to fair and public trial] and 11(f) [right to trial by jury] of the Charter.[1]

"Representativeness" relates to the "process used to compile the jury roll" (ie. the list of persons from whom the jury is selected).[2]

Juries are to consist of "a representative cross-section of Canadian society". [3] The must be "honestly and fairly chosen".[4] As such, an accused has no right to a jury roll of a "particular composition", including particular number of members of a certain race or ethnicity.[5]

  1. ↑ R v Kokopenace, [2015] 2 SCR 398, 2015 SCC 28 (CanLII), per Moldaver J, at para 47
  2. ↑ Kokopenace, ibid. at para 40
  3. ↑ R v Ironeagle, 2012 SKQB 324 (CanLII) at para 5
    Kokopenace, supra at para 39
    R v Sherratt, 1991 CanLII 86 (SCC), [1991] 1 S.C.R. 509, at p. 524
  4. ↑ Kokopenace, supra at para 39
    Sherratt, supra at p. 524
  5. ↑ Kokopenace, supra at para 39
    R v Church of Scientology (1997), 1997 CanLII 16226 (ON CA), 33 O.R. (3d) 65 (C.A.), per Rosenberg JA, at pp. 120-21 ("[w]hat is required is a process that provides a platform for the selection of a competent and impartial petit jury, ensures confidence in the jury’s verdict, and contributes to the community’s support for the criminal justice system")
    R v Laws (1998), 1998 CanLII 7157 (ON CA), 41 O.R. (3d) 499 (C.A.), at pp. 517-18
    R v Kent, 1986 CanLII 4745 (MB CA), (1986), 40 Man. R. (2d) 160, (1986) 27 CCC (3d) 405 (Man. C.A.)(*no CanLII links) at p. 421 ("An accused has no right to demand that members of his race be included on the jury. To so interpret the Charter would run counter to Canada's multicultural and multiracial heritage and the right of every person to serve as a juror")
    R. v. Bradley (No. 2) (1973), 23 C.R.N.S. 39 (ONSC)(*no CanLII links) , at pp. 40-41
    R v Ironeagle, 2012 SKQB 324 (CanLII) at para 5

Selection Process

The jury selection process relies on the randomness of selection to achieve a fair sampling of jurors.[1] Additional efforts to change the make-up of the jury may be considered inappropriate.[2]

Representativeness is an entitlement that is essential at the "polling" and "panel" level of jury selection, but not so at the final stage of the final selection of the members of the jury.[3]

A representative jury is important as it "contributes to a sense of confidence that the jury will be fair and impartial".[4] A representative jury has the effect of bringing a diversity of backgrounds and experiences, in addition to cultural sensitivities.[5]

Certain characteristics such as the type of employer the person has are immaterial and have no bearing on the right to representativeness.[6]

A representative jury roll is achieved by ensuring that:

  1. the "draw[s] from a broad cross-section of society" in order to capture as many eligible persons as possible.[7]
  2. the jurors are selected from the role in a random fashion.[8]
  3. the delivery of notices to those who have been randomly selected to attend court to be considered as someone who will sit on the jury.[9]


  1. ↑ R v Kokopenace, [2015] 2 SCR 398, 2015 SCC 28 (CanLII), per Moldaver J, at para 88
    R v Rice, 2016 QCCS 4507 (CanLII), at para 13
  2. ↑ Rice, ibid. at para 13
  3. ↑ R v Pan, 2014 ONSC 1393 (CanLII) at para 34 to 37
  4. ↑ Pan, supra at para 31
    R v Kokopenace (ONCA) at para 26
  5. ↑ Pan, supra at para 31
    R v Church of Scientology of Toronto, 1997 CanLII 16226 (ON CA), [1997] O.J. No. 1548 at para. 151 per Rosenberg JA
  6. ↑ Pan, supra at para 54
  7. ↑ Kokopenace, supra at para 41
  8. ↑ Kokopenace, supra at para 42
  9. ↑ Kokopenace, supra at para 45

See Also

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