Juries and Extraneous Material: A Question of Integrity

Abstract

This article challenges the unconditional faith seemingly placed on juries by the judiciary. Despite the prohibition on investigation into jury deliberations, a number of important cases have come to light which invite questions on the extent to which we can be sure that juries follow judicial directions. This article explores the recent case law in which juries may have relied upon extraneous material or other external influences and, finally, briefly compares such impropriety with the use of jurors with specialised knowledge.