Jury Duty in Australia: A Responsibility of Citizenship

Serving on a jury is one of the responsibilities of Australian citizenship. Many people from countries without a jury system are unfamiliar with it, so it is worth understanding before your test — and before a jury summons arrives in your letterbox.

What Is a Jury?

A jury is a group of ordinary citizens chosen to listen to the evidence in a court case and decide the facts. In criminal trials, the jury decides whether the accused person is guilty or not guilty. The judge explains the law and, if the person is found guilty, decides the sentence.

Trial by jury is an important part of Australia's legal heritage. It means that the community — not just the government or judges — plays a direct role in the justice system.

Who Can Be Called for Jury Duty?

Juries are drawn from Australian citizens who are enrolled to vote. People are selected at random from the electoral roll. This is one reason enrolment is so important: it connects you both to elections and to the justice system.

Permanent residents who are not citizens are not called for jury duty.

Is Jury Duty Compulsory?

If you are called for jury duty, you are generally required to attend, unless you are excused or not eligible. Each state and territory has its own rules. Some people may be ineligible — for example, because of their occupation or certain criminal history — and others may be able to ask to be excused, for instance because of illness, caring responsibilities, or significant hardship. Instructions will be included with your summons.

What Happens When You Are Called?

1. You receive a summons from the court or jury office, telling you when and where to attend.
2. You attend the court with other potential jurors. Not everyone who attends will be chosen.
3. Selection takes place. Jurors are randomly selected for a trial, and the lawyers may be able to object to some people being chosen.
4. If selected, you take an oath or affirmation to decide the case fairly according to the evidence. You can choose a religious oath or a non-religious affirmation.
5. You listen to the trial and then discuss the case privately with the other jurors to reach a verdict.

Your Duties as a Juror

• Be impartial — decide based only on the evidence presented in court, not on personal opinions or background
• Keep deliberations confidential — what is discussed in the jury room stays there
• Do not research the case yourself, including online
• Follow the judge's directions on the law

Will I Be Paid?

Jurors usually receive an allowance, and employers generally must not dismiss or penalise an employee for serving on a jury. Details differ between states and territories.

Jury Duty and Australian Values

Jury service reflects several values tested in the citizenship test:

• The rule of law — everyone is subject to the law and entitled to a fair trial
• Equality before the law — the accused is judged on evidence, not on who they are
• The presumption of innocence — a person is innocent until proven guilty

For the Citizenship Test

Remember that the responsibilities of Australian citizens include: obeying the law, voting in elections and referendums, defending Australia should the need arise, and serving on a jury if called to do so.

Keep Practising

Questions on the privileges and responsibilities of citizenship are some of the most predictable on the test. Practise them in CitiZen AU, in English and Vietnamese, until you can answer them without hesitation.