Lawyer Raises Concerns About Impact of Removing Unanimous Jury Verdicts

A Sydney criminal lawyer has warned that the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) government’s decision to allow majority verdicts—where a finding of guilt can be made even if one juror dissents—”raises valid concerns about the potential implications for the justice system.” In an exclusive interview with The Epoch Times, Tony Nikolic of Ashley, Francina, Leonard & Associates (AFL Solicitors) said the change undermines “the foundational principle of unanimous agreement among jurors [which is] essential for ensuring thorough deliberation and safeguarding against potential biases or errors.” A unanimous verdict is a “time-honoured standard,” he said, and departing from it could start “a slippery slope in the judicial process, where expediency takes precedence over the meticulous examination of evidence, jeopardising the integrity of verdicts and the rights of defendants.”...