A prominent juror advocate says he’s frustrated and angry after a private member’s bill aimed at improving mental-health support for traumatized jury members died in the Senate. Mark Farrant of Toronto was a driving force behind the proposed legislation, which would have amended Section 649 of the Criminal Code. Conservative deputy justice critic Michael Cooper brought the bill forward saying people who sit through gruesome trials and suffer stress, anxiety and even post-traumatic stress disorder should be able to seek help from mental-health professionals. The current legislation surrounding jury secrecy prohibits jurors from talking about jury deliberations forever, preventing them from seeking help. Despite unanimous support from the House of Commons, Farrant says the bill died in the Senate.

Source: thestar June 23, 2019 14:03 UTC