Sir, Simon Jenkins claims that “no other country in Europe feels any need” of juries (T2, January 27; letters, February 3, 8 and 11). But France has had juries for 200 years, Spain introduced them in 1995 and Russia is currently extending their use.
Simon Jenkins commends the use of assessors sitting with a judge, as on the Continent, but in Europe assessors are widely known as “flowerpots” because of their decorative function.
Yours sincerely,
JOHN HOSTETTLER,
(Author, The Criminal Jury Old and New: Jury Power from Early Times to the Present Day, Waterside Press, 2004),
7 Broadstrand, Rustington,
West Sussex BN16 2EP.
7hostettler.net@tiscali.co.uk
February 11.
From Mr E. F. Northcote
Advertisement
Sir, As a layman who makes application to the Criminal Cases Review Commission for people who say they have been convicted wrongly, I find the respect accorded to the jury exaggerated.
It is extraordinary that we send people to prison as a result of the deliberation of a group of quite untrained people who do not give reasons for their decisions.
Yours faithfully,
EDWARD F. NORTHCOTE,
38 Westmore Court,
Carlton Drive,
Putney, SW15 2BU.
efnorthcote@fsmail.net
February 11.