Jury Selection

General Principles

Every person charged with a crime has a right to a fair trial before an impartial tribunal. This right includes the right to an impartial jury.^[1]

The right to a jury is protected by s. 1(d) which guarantees the right to be tried by an "independent and impartial tribunal" and s. 11(f) which guarantees the right to a jury that is "impartial and representative".^[2]

Any legal errors in jury selection will require a new trial.^[3] This includes errors of law by the judge or unreasonable exercise of discretion in managing the selection process.^[4]

↑ R v Sherratt, [1991] 1 SCR 509, 1991 CanLII 86 (SCC), (1991), 63 CCC (3d) 192 (S.C.C.), per L'Heureux-Dube J, at para 57
R v Douse, 2009 CanLII 34990 at para 40
↑ Sherratt, supra at para 35
↑ R v Barrow, 1987 CanLII 11 (SCC), [1987] 2 SCR 694 at p. 714
↑ R v Barnes 1999 CanLII 3782 (ON CA), (1999), 46 OR (3d) 116 at para 30, 138 CCC (3d) 500 (CA)

Topics

[1] R v Sherratt, [1991] 1 SCR 509, 1991 CanLII 86 (SCC), (1991), 63 CCC (3d) 192 (S.C.C.), per L'Heureux-Dube J, at para 57
R v Douse, 2009 CanLII 34990 at para 40

[2] Sherratt, supra at para 35

[3] R v Barrow, 1987 CanLII 11 (SCC), [1987] 2 SCR 694 at p. 714

[4] R v Barnes 1999 CanLII 3782 (ON CA), (1999), 46 OR (3d) 116 at para 30, 138 CCC (3d) 500 (CA)

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