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By Nicole Reis

Consistency in Court

Amendments to jury legislation excludes First Nation elected officials

Dec 5, 2019 | 3:13 PM

Recent amendments to provincial legislation is excluding chiefs and council members from First Nations bands from serving as jurors.

The province said in a press release the move is to ensure consistency with the exclusion of mayors, city councilors, and other elected municipal officials from jury duty.

“I don’t see it as a problem. It’s a step in the right direction. It recognizes First Nations chiefs and council are comparable to MLAs and MPs. If First Nation governments want to be considered the same as other governments, I think consistency good,” Richard Derocher, Vice Chief of the Meadow Lake Tribal Council, said.

The current exclusion of spouses of reeves, mayors, city councilors and other officials will be also removed to allow for increased juror eligibility and participation.

“The only downfall that I can see is sometimes our elected officials are the most vocal for our communities and I don’t really see an avenue for a First Nation perspective on a particular issue in a jury,” he said.

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The amendments provide increased protection for the personal information of jurors and potential jurors. Personal information of jurors and potential jurors will no longer be part of the public record, but will be available to parties of a proceeding.

It may also be made available under specific terms and conditions imposed by the court.

Further information on jury service and selection in Saskatchewan is available here.

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nicole.reis@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @nicolereis7722