Description
This research report examines the complex and interconnected barriers to First Nations participation and representation on juries. While focused on South Australia, it offers insights and recommendations with relevance across Australia, contributing to ongoing efforts to strengthen jury diversity and ensure greater inclusion of First Nations peoples in the justice system.
Led by Professor John Williams, Associate Professor David Plater, Claudia Light and the independent South Australian Law Reform Institute (SALRI) based at Adelaide Law School, the project began by examining the impact of criminal history on jury disqualification. The research quickly revealed that this issue sits within a broader network of legislative, procedural and systemic barriers that cannot be understood or addressed in isolation.
The report provides a detailed case study of how legislative settings, local practices and historical context shape First Nations representation on juries and offers practical considerations for policymakers, law reform bodies and courts seeking to improve Indigenous participation in jury service.
The research builds on an earlier study commissioned by the AIJA, “The Australian Jury in Black & White: Barriers to Indigenous Representation on Juries” (2023), by Professor Jill Hunter and Sharleigh Crittenden. Together, the reports address barriers to Indigenous jury representation, combining a national overview with a detailed examination of how these issues operate in practice at the jurisdictional level. It is hoped both Reports will contribute to future work in this important area.
Download The ‘Many Knots’ of a ‘Jury of Your Peers’ – Summary report
Download The ‘Many Knots’ of a ‘Jury of Your Peers’ – Full research report
