After the trial: support and information

Support is available for you

Some court cases can be distressing. After the trial, if you feel you need to see a counsellor, the Ministry of Justice can arrange this and will cover the cost. Tell court staff or email juryservice@justice.govt.nz.

It’s important that you don’t tell anyone about what happened in the jury room

As a juror, you must not answer questions about the verdict, how you reached it, or anything else that happened in the jury room. Anyone who tries to find out information from you about the trial may be breaking the law. If you tell anyone about what happened in the trial, you could also be breaking the law. Tell court staff if anyone asks you for this information.

You also must not post anything about the trial on social media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Snapchat, blogs) as you may be breaking the law. You also risk identifying yourself as a juror in the case.

If you see someone afterwards that was involved in the trial

If you see someone who was involved in the trial and feel threatened or unsafe, call Police on 111.

You can find out the defendant’s sentence

If the jury finds the defendant guilty, they’ll be sentenced by the judge at the end of the trial or at a later date. To find out what the sentence is, you can go to the sentencing hearing or ask the court to tell you. When asking for this information, include your name, and the name and date of the trial.