Jury system is cleared of racial prejudice

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

The four-year, £235,000 study rejected long-running allegations from senior judges and race campaigners that verdicts can be biased against black defendants.

It found that jurors of any race can sometimes be more lenient to those from the same ethnic background.

But these prejudices made no difference to the final verdicts, said the study.

The Ministry of Justice report also dismissed the claim that there are too few ethnic minority jurors.

After publishing the study, the Lord Chancellor, Lord Falconer, said: 'This study goes a long way towards dispelling myths about how juries operate and will help to maintain and sustain public confidence.

"This makes it absolutely clear that the courts are not racist in the way they deal with cases."

The report, produced by Professor Cheryl Thomas of University College, London, was based on a survey of nearly 16,000 jurors serving over a four-week period at three crown courts.

The report also put paid to the myth that the middle classes are more likely to shun jury service.

It found instead that middle to upper income earners had the highest participation rates.