Qualification to serve on a grand jury

[Megan Roberts]

I have seen newspaper reports of lists of men being sworn as members of the grand jury for the quarter sessions.

Does anyone know how they were selected, and what qualification they needed?

[Elwyn Soutter]

I think one qualification was that you needed to be a householder on the electoral register, i.e. an adult over a certain age with property above a certain value (a figure which changed from time to time). At one time you also needed to be Church of England though that was relaxed at some point. No doubt others will have more detail.

[helachau]

Blackstone's Commentaries 1791
https://books.google.co.uk/books/about/Commentaries_on_the_Laws_of_England.html?id=Q1ozAA AAIAAJ&redir_esc=y

search for "grand jury" and check page 302.

[Megan Roberts]

What a good find.

I rather like the fact that if the grand jury decided having heard the evidence that it was a groundless accusation they used to formerly endorse the back of the bill (summons) "ignoramus", or, we know nothing of it.

A good example of how the passage of time changes the usage of words, because I can't imaging anyone using that word to described themselves!

[helachau]

I also enjoyed checking through "The Practice of the Office of Sheriff ......"
https://books.google.co.uk/books/about/The_Practice_of_the_Office_of_Sheriff_an.html?id=k fBBAAAAYAAJ&redir_esc=y

search for "juries" - see page 233