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Australian Capital Removes the Need for Unanimous Jury Decisions in Criminal Trials

The ACT has made it an offence for jurors to do their own research, and has also allowed for 11:1 findings of guilt.
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Australian Capital Removes the Need for Unanimous Jury Decisions in Criminal Trials
Bruce Lehrmann arrives at the Federal Court of Australia in Sydney, on Feb. 13, 2024. AAP Image/Bianca De Marchi
Rex Widerstrom
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The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) government has passed two significant changes to its jury laws: accepting majority decisions of 11:1 in criminal trials, and criminalising jurors’ independent search for trial information, such as through online queries.

The changes come in the fallout of the Bruce Lehrmann trial, which was abandoned after it was found one juror conducted their own independent research.

Rex Widerstrom
Rex Widerstrom
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Rex Widerstrom is a New Zealand-based reporter with over 40 years of experience in media, including radio and print. He is currently a presenter for Hutt Radio.
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