Call to allow over-65s to sit on juries

Published on Tuesday 21 August 2007 12:15

TORY MSP David McLetchie today called for a change in the law to allow over-65s to sit on juries in Scotland.

The lawyer and Edinburgh Pentlands MSP said the older generation benefited from greater life experience, which they could draw on when making a decision.

At the moment, anyone over the retirement age is excluded from sitting on a jury.

The Scottish Executive has said it will look at raising the limit as part of a review of the legal system.

Mr McLetchie says older people still lead busy, active lives long after retirement and are more likely to have the time to sit on a jury, and rejected any suggestion that they may not be as alert as younger jurors.

Dropping the restriction would also ease the burden on younger people, who have to juggle work and family commitments, he added.