This the first major Report that the Commission has published in the Criminal Procedure Reference. In the research which has been done on the jury system, many issues which were more clearly associated with other aspects of the reference have been encountered. In determining the ground to be covered by this Report the Commission has concentrated on those Issues which primarily concern the jury system. The related issues will be dealt with in later reports under this Reference.

The Commission has been given valuable assistance by a large number of people but there are two who deserve particular mention. The work done by Meredith Wilkie, Senior Legal Officer, in relation to the Discussion Paper The Jury in a Criminal Trial has provided a valuable foundation for this Report. Our task would have been much more difficult without her significant contribution at that stage of the reference, in the conduct of the surveys upon which much of the Report Is based and in the preparation of the Report itself. Particular mention should also be made of the outstanding contribution made by Gordon Renouf, Legal Research Consultant, who spent many hours checking the draft of this Report and making innumerable improvements to it.