At most inquests there is no jury, the Coroner makes all the decisions. However, at a small number of inquests, a jury is needed. The Coroner will call a jury if a person dies in custody when the death is not clearly due to natural causes, or if their death was linked to their own or someone else's actions while at work, or to certain health and safety issues. The Coroner may also decide to use a jury because they think it would be helpful or in the public interest.
We call members of the public to serve on the jury in the same way as other courts. They are chosen at random from the electoral register. The jurors listen to the evidence and decide on the findings of fact and the conclusion of the inquest.
Jury service is an important civic duty. It can be challenging at times however, many of our jurors also find it very satisfying and meaningful to take an active part in the justice system. We are grateful to our jurors for the vital role they play and give them all possible support.
This section of the website explains what to do if you have been summoned to serve on a jury and what to expect in court.