JSG selects new jurors
The Judicial Service of Ghana (JSG) is selecting new jurors in its quest to reform the jury system in the country.
It is embarking on this exercise to expedite proceedings in trials that requires jurors.
At a panel discussion on reforming the Jury System in Ghana on Ghana Television, a Court of Appeal judge, Justice Afia Serwaa Asare-Botwe, announced that the service was currently asking for the list of staffers of both public and private institutions to select the best from the lists.
She said she observed that the old system of balloting for jurors make the court system inefficient.
Per the new arrangement, Justice Asare-Botwe said the service would consider the qualifications of persons before they were selected to serve as jurors.
She said a juror would not serve in more than one case at the same time.
So far, the Court of Appeal Judge revealed that 160 jurors had been selected in the Central Region, and that the exercise would be replicated in other regions.
Justice Asare-Botwe indicated that some persons including the President and the Vice President, the Chief Justice, medical practitioners, editors of electronic and print media, and the various security agencies were exempt from serving as jurors.
But, she appealed to those not exempted to accept the offer to take part in murder and treason trials as jurors.
Justice Asare-Botwe further indicated that serving as a juror was a civic responsibility, and offers the juror life learning lessons.
Her colleague, Justice Lydia Osei Marfo, who was on the panel, stated that the courts would no longer use the professional jurors once the reform takes effect.
Unlike the past, where the courts allow lawyers to spend days leading their clients in evidence under the new practice direction, a witness statement once filed is adopted as evidence.
This development, Justice Marfo ensured efficiency in time management and adjudication
BY MALIK SULLEMANA
