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09/03/2010
Bilingual Juries 'Cannot Outweigh' Justice
Selecting juries randomly from the community outweighs the benefits of selecting exclusively bilingual juries for some trials in Wales, the Government has said.
The decision announced today, follows a consultation on whether to select juries for certain criminal trials in Wales, all of whose members would be bilingual in Welsh and English.
Justice Minister Claire Ward said the decision comes down to a choice "between two good and desirable things".
These she said are "the principle of random selection in the jury system and greater use of the Welsh language in court".
Ms Ward continue: "Being tried for a serious offence by one's fellow citizens is an important right, and juries should be randomly selected from the whole community.
"It has been our consistent policy to strengthen this principle in the interests of social inclusion and justice."
She added: "Participants in criminal and civil trials in Wales have the right to use the Welsh language in court, and the government pays for interpreters to support this right. This reflects our commitment to the principle of a bilingual Wales."
According to 2001 census results, 21% of people in Wales said they could speak Welsh.
This would amount to the exclusion from the jury, in every case involving a bilingual jury, of about four fifths of the population of Wales.
(PR/BMcC)
The decision announced today, follows a consultation on whether to select juries for certain criminal trials in Wales, all of whose members would be bilingual in Welsh and English.
Justice Minister Claire Ward said the decision comes down to a choice "between two good and desirable things".
These she said are "the principle of random selection in the jury system and greater use of the Welsh language in court".
Ms Ward continue: "Being tried for a serious offence by one's fellow citizens is an important right, and juries should be randomly selected from the whole community.
"It has been our consistent policy to strengthen this principle in the interests of social inclusion and justice."
She added: "Participants in criminal and civil trials in Wales have the right to use the Welsh language in court, and the government pays for interpreters to support this right. This reflects our commitment to the principle of a bilingual Wales."
According to 2001 census results, 21% of people in Wales said they could speak Welsh.
This would amount to the exclusion from the jury, in every case involving a bilingual jury, of about four fifths of the population of Wales.
(PR/BMcC)
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