The NSW opposition proposes to allow juries in criminal trials to impose minimum sentences. This could jeopardise trials if a jury gets 'hung up on' the punishment. Should juries be restricted to deciding guilt or innocence, and leave sentencing up to judges and the political process? Why limit it to minimum sentences? Why not allow a maximum sentence as well so they can limit punishment for people they feel sorry for?

In my opinion, juries are only useful in ensuring justice is done by deciding guilt or innocence - who is lying and who is telling the truth. They have no expertise and no useful role to play in sentencing. Sentences should be consistent and not at the whims of a jury.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Jury-plan-a-threat-to-justice-Iemma/2007/03/04/1172943259962.html

Talk about POLL happy.

By allowing the Jury to recommend a sentence will clear them of guilt if they are not sure when convicting someone of guilt. What's it meant to be? 'Guilty beyond all reasonable doubt' Now reasonable doubt will be turned into a minimum sentence.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Qlds-top-judge-calls-for-jury-reform/2007/04/27/1177459949323.html

Queensland's chief justice has called for wide-ranging jury reform, including the possibility of giving judges the discretion to accept majority verdicts.

Chief Justice Paul de Jersey described the state's requirement for unanimous verdicts in criminal trials as "out of step with the rest of the country".

Last year, the NSW government became the second legal jurisdiction in Australia, after the Northern Territory, to introduce majority verdicts in criminal trials.

The law allows judges to permit juries to reach 11-1 majority verdicts after they have spent at least eight hours trying to come to a unanimous decision.

One intransigent juror who doesn't follow legal instruction can force a retrial under the current law, Chief Justice de Jersey said, causing extreme trauma for victims.

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"It's become necessary for us to take the rather absurd step of busing juries, say at 9.30, 10 o'clock at night, from Brisbane to Ipswich or the Gold Coast to find accommodation," Chief Justice de Jersey said.

He said he had spoken to Queensland Attorney-General Kerry Shine about the possibility of doing away with the obligation for juries to remain together during a hearing, a practice he described as "archaic".

The current daily rate of pay for a juror is $97, increasing to $129 per day if a trial goes beyond 20 working days.