High Court judge Justice Bertram Morrison has ordered the police to locate and bring 12 jurors who failed to show up for duties today, before the court.

Justice Morrison made the order at the opening of the Michaelmas session of the St. James Circuit Court, after hearing that only 17 of the 29 jurors showed.

In court today, jurors who were present were told by the presiding judge that none of them will be excused from serving on the grounds of them presenting a sick leave certificate, as he argued that some of those presented are being fabricated.

He said jurors are essential to the judicial process, ensuring that trials are conducted fairly and justly, and that the absence of jurors leads to delays and complications in court proceedings, affecting the overall efficiency of the legal system.

Head of the St. James police, Superintendent Eron Samuels, was subsequently told that the 12 others who were served but did not show up are to be brought before the court.

Justice Morrison insisted that any juror who wants to be excused would have to go to the witness box where they would be questioned as to why they should not serve.

A shortage of jurors has been cited in several of the island’s courts in recent times. The issue has led to several high-profile cases being delayed.

There are 340 cases listed for the Michaelmas session of the St. James Circuit Court which is expected to run for nine weeks.