Over-65s let off jury service under new bill

People aged over 65 will have the option of being permanently excused from jury service after a parliamentary committee decided not to amend proposed legislation.

The Juries Amendment Bill, which was returned largely unchanged to Parliament by the law and order committee today, includes a provision for those aged over 65 to apply for permanent exemption from jury service.

The Human Rights Commission last month objected to the clause regarding over-65s, saying it seemed to be based on the notion that old people got more stressed and had already completed their civic duty.

The committee noted the concern in its report, but decided against amending the clause.

"At the same time, however, we note that there is currently no mechanism to allow those who choose permanent excusal to opt back in at a later date if they should change their minds," it said.

"We do not consider that what is proposed implies that older people are less capable of serving on a jury."

Welcoming the report today, Justice Minister Simon Power said the legislation addressed the inconvenience of those people having to make a separate request each time they are summonsed.

"The committee made it clear that the bill does not propose to re-introduce an age limit for jury service and that those aged 65 and over will retain all the rights they currently have in relation to serving on a jury," Mr Power said.

"I want to make it clear that the Government values the contribution that people over 65, with their considerable life experience, bring to this important civic duty."

The Juries Amendment Bill was introduced after convicted murderer George Baker wrote to a juror whose name he saw on a list while representing himself in a trial.

Jury lists currently contain the name, occupation, birth date and address of all potential jurors.

The bill will remove the addresses of potential jurors from jury panel lists. It will allow lawyers and court-appointed advisers and police employees to request access to juror addresses, but bar them from ever showing them to defendants.