CORONER'S JURY

a group summoned from a district to assist a coroner in determining the cause of a person's death. The number of jurors ranges from 6 to 20. The coroner's jury, which originated in medieval England, is a disappearing form, even in countries where the jury system is strong. The coroner's jury resembles the grand jury in that it does not try cases but rather reviews evidence that may be relevant at trial. The jury's verdict states how, when, and where the deceased died. If the jury concludes that the deceased died by murder or manslaughter, they can name suspects, and the coroner can order arrest and detainment, pending grand jury action. When it is publicly known that the deceased was killed by a person in custody, the coroner need not summon a jury. When he does so, however, jurors cannot refuse to serve. In some jurisdictions the jury must be sworn in the presence of the deceased person's body and must view the body for the inquest (q.v.) to be valid. The verdict of a coroner's jury is admissible only as evidence of the fact of death, which is occasionally an issue in cases of mass accidents or deaths in which the body is difficult to identify. Those who argue for the abolition of the coroner's jury assert the inability of the jurors to understand complex medical questions, the tendency of jurors to rubber-stamp the coroner's opinion, and the costs of maintenance. Prosecutors suspecting foul play in a case often proceed with investigations even after a verdict of death from natural or accidental causes.