Keenan and Riches’BUSINESS LAW

Chapter 3Resolving disputes

the Magistrates Division would deal with summary
offences and less serious either-way offences.
■The defendant should lose the right to elect to be tried
in any of the new divisions or, if the proposal for a
unified court was not accepted, the right to trial by
jury for either-way offences under the existing
arrangements.
■A centrally funded executive agency should take over
administrative arrangements for all courts except the
House of Lords.

■Juries should be more representative of national and

local communities. Although people with criminal

convictions and mental disorder should remain inel-

igible to serve, other groups such as members of the

clergy, the judiciary and those involved in the admin-

istration of justice should no longer be ineligible, and

other groups, such as MPs, doctors and nurses, should

no longer be excused as of right. There should be

ethnic minority representation on juries where race is

relevant to the case.

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Figure 3.1Criminal courts dealing with minor offences