Project No. 71

Commenced: 1977
Completed: 1980

At the time of the reference the law on this subject was contained in the Juries Act 1957 (WA). The Commission was concerned that the Act: (a) did not distinguish between persons who should be ineligible for jury service and those who should be given the right of excusal; (b) was discriminatory in giving women an absolute right to cancel their liability for jury service; and (c) was confusing and inconsistent in relation to the kinds of person disqualified from serving as a juror.