Criminal Code Amendment (No. 2) Act
Passed
Simplified for You
What this bill does
This bill makes three main changes to Bermuda's criminal justice system. It gives judges more flexibility when deciding whether to order psychological reports for certain offenders, makes jury selection fairer by giving both the prosecution and defense the same number of challenges, and removes the outdated power for courts to order all-male juries.
If Passed (Voted Yes)
Judges will have discretion to decide if a psychological report is needed before sentencing someone for serious violent crimes, rather than being required to order one
Both the prosecution and defense will get the same number of chances to reject potential jurors without giving a reason (3-5 challenges each depending on the crime)
Courts will no longer be able to order all-male juries, even in cases involving sensitive or sexual matters
If Rejected (Voted No)
Judges will still be required to automatically order psychological reports before sentencing people convicted of serious violent offenses
The prosecution will continue to have more power than the defense during jury selection, creating an unequal system
Courts will retain the legal ability to order all-male juries in certain cases, though this practice is likely outdated
Who It Affects
This primarily affects people accused of crimes going through Bermuda's court system, as well as potential jurors called for jury duty. It also impacts judges, prosecutors, and defense lawyers by changing how they conduct trials and sentencing procedures.
Vote counts are not published.
The Bermuda Parliament does not publicly record individual vote counts or how each member voted.
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Related Bill
Criminal Code Amendment (No. 2) Act
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