[English] - [Cymraeg]
Legislative changes to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act now allow British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters to enter the jury deliberation room as a thirteenth person. This change makes it possible for many adults in our society who rely on BSL interpreters to fulfil their civic duty and serve on a jury.
We’re committed to ensuring that our courts are accessible and inclusive. In July 2022, Karen made history at Croydon Crown Court when she became the first deaf juror to be supported by BSL interpreters in the deliberation room.
To mark International Day of Persons with Disabilities on Sunday 3 December 2023, we caught up with Karen, and Jury Manager, Toby, who has also welcomed a deaf juror to serve at Leicester Crown Court.
We invited Karen and Toby to share their insights and reflect on the progress made towards a more inclusive justice system.
Karen, thank you for taking the time to share your experiences with us. Can you start by telling us how you felt when you first received your jury summons?
"At first, I was surprised, as I never thought I would receive a jury summons. But as I thought about it more, I realised it could be an interesting experience."
How did the court staff help you prepare to attend court?
"Maria, the Jury Team Leader at Croydon Crown Court, was brilliant and played a crucial role in ensuring I was well-prepared. She invited me to the court, along with an interpreter, to introduce me to the courtroom and the jury deliberation room. This visit allowed me to provide feedback which was really valuable to me and helped me feel reassured that my needs would be taken in to account."
How did the court staff help you understand what you needed to do as a juror?
"They explained where I would be sitting, what would happen during the trial, and one of the judges even took the time to meet me and discuss where the interpreter would stand. I also had the opportunity to observe a trial, which gave me a better understanding of how things worked."
Were there any adjustments made so you could fully participate in the trial process?
"The court staff made several adjustments, including the layout of the jury deliberation room to ensure I could see everyone, including the interpreters. They introduced me to the other jurors on the first day and provided them with information on working with interpreters.
"I was pleased to see that this information was printed out as posters in various places within the court. Court staff also took time to explain to me what would happen during the jury deliberations and what we needed to do as jurors."
You also served as the jury foreperson. Can you tell us about that?
"It was an experience that made me feel heard and equal to my fellow hearing jurors. Of course, it was nerve-wracking to stand up and deliver the verdict, but looking back, the whole thing was an experience of a lifetime."
If you were to serve as a juror again, is there anything you would do differently or any improvements you'd like to see from HMCTS?
"Honestly, no. My input was considered, and everything went well. Everything went smoothly, and the 3 interpreters I worked with also mentioned how seamless it was, considering it was the first time for a Deaf juror using interpreters in the deliberation room."
What would you say to other people with deafness who have received a jury summons?
"Go for it! Deaf people now have an equal opportunity with hearing people to serve on a jury after many years of not being able to."
And Toby, as Jury Manager at Leicester Crown Court, what have your experiences been when a deaf person has served on a jury in your court?
"It was quite interesting going into court to observe it in action, and it felt like a well-oiled machine. The court room didn’t feel any different to normal and certainly watching the interpreters moving around seamlessly and quietly without disturbing or interrupting the flow of the witness giving evidence was impressive.
"Apart from the additions of the interpreters being in court, we tried to keep the experience as normal as possible for the juror. We’re really proud that the trial went as well as we could have hoped for. "
Since Karen's historic moment, HMCTS has so far welcomed 37 Deaf jurors to participate in jury panels, demonstrating our ongoing commitment to accessibility. We look forward to Deaf jurors continuing to play a vital role in our Crown courts, bringing diverse perspectives and truly representing the communities we serve.
[English] - [Cymraeg]
Dathlu cynhwysiant: Rheithwyr byddar yn ein llysoedd
Yn GLlTEF rydym wedi ymrwymo i sicrhau bod ein llysoedd yn hygyrch ac yn gynhwysol. Ym mis Gorffennaf 2022, gwnaeth Karen hanes yn Llys y Goron Croydon pan ddaeth yn rheithiwr byddar cyntaf i gael cefnogaeth cyfieithwyr Iaith Arwyddion Prydain (BSL) yn ystafell drafod y rheithgor. Mae newidiadau deddfwriaethol i Ddeddf yr Heddlu, Troseddu, Dedfrydu a'r Llysoedd yn caniatáu i gyfieithwyr BSL fynd i mewn i ystafell drafod y rheithgor fel trydydd person ar ddeg. Mae'r newid hwn yn ei gwneud hi'n bosibl i lawer o oedolion yn ein cymdeithas sy'n dibynnu ar gyfieithwyr BSL gyflawni eu dyletswydd ddinesig a gwasanaethu ar reithgor.
I gydnabod Diwrnod Rhyngwladol Pobl ag Anableddau a gynhaliwyd ar ddydd Sul 3 Rhagfyr 2023, fe wnaethon ni ddal i fyny efo Karen, a Rheolwr y Rheithgor, Toby, sydd hefyd wedi croesawu rheithwyr byddar i wasanaethu yn Llys y Goron Caerlŷr. Mae Karen a Toby yn rhannu eu mewnwelediadau ac yn myfyrio ar y cynnydd a wnaed tuag at system gyfiawnder fwy cynhwysol.
Karen, diolch i chi am roi o’ch amser i rannu eich profiadau gyda ni. A allwch chi ddechrau drwy ddweud wrthym sut roeddech chi'n teimlo pan wnaethoch chi gael eich gwŷs rheithgor am y tro cyntaf?
Ar y dechrau, cefais fy synnu, gan na feddyliais erioed y byddwn yn cael gwŷs rheithgor. Ond wrth i mi feddwl am y peth yn fwy, sylweddolais y gallai fod yn brofiad diddorol.
Sut wnaeth staff y llys eich helpu i baratoi i fynd i'r llys?
Roedd Maria, Arweinydd Tîm y Rheithgor yn Llys y Goron Croydon, yn wych a chwaraeodd ran hanfodol wrth sicrhau fy mod wedi paratoi'n dda. Gwahoddodd fi i'r llys, ynghyd â chyfieithydd, i'm cyflwyno i'r llys ac ystafell drafod y rheithgor. Roedd yr ymweliad hwn yn fy ngalluogi i roi adborth a oedd yn werthfawr iawn i mi ac yn fy helpu i deimlo fy mod yn dawel fy meddwl y byddai fy anghenion yn cael eu hystyried.
Sut wnaeth staff y llys eich helpu i ddeall beth oedd angen i chi ei wneud fel rheithiwr?
Fe wnaethon nhw egluro lle byddwn i'n eistedd, beth fyddai'n digwydd yn ystod y treial, ac fe wnaeth un o'r barnwyr hyd yn oed gymryd yr amser i gwrdd â mi a thrafod lle byddai'r cyfieithydd yn sefyll. Cefais gyfle hefyd i arsylwi treial, a roddodd well dealltwriaeth i mi o sut roedd pethau'n gweithio.
A gafodd unrhyw addasiadau eu gwneud er mwyn i chi allu cymryd rhan lawn yn y treial?
Gwnaeth staff y llys sawl addasiad, gan gynnwys cynllunio ystafell drafod y rheithgor i sicrhau y gallwn weld pawb, gan gynnwys y cyfieithwyr. Fe wnaethant fy nghyflwyno i'r rheithwyr eraill ar y diwrnod cyntaf a rhoi gwybodaeth iddynt am weithio gyda chyfieithwyr. Roeddwn yn falch o weld bod yr wybodaeth hon wedi'i hargraffu fel posteri mewn gwahanol leoedd yn y llys. Cymerodd staff y llys amser i egluro i mi beth fyddai'n digwydd yn ystod trafodaethau'r rheithgor a'r hyn yr oedd angen i ni ei wneud fel rheithwyr.
Fe wnaethoch chi hefyd wasanaethu fel prif swyddog y rheithgor. A allwch chi ddweud wrthym ni am hynny?
Roedd yn brofiad a wnaeth i mi deimlo fy mod yn cael fy nghlywed ac yn gyfartal â'm cyd-reithwyr. Wrth gwrs, roeddwn yn nerfus wrth sefyll i fyny a chyflwyno’r dyfarniad, ond o edrych yn ôl, roedd yr holl beth yn brofiad arbennig.
Pe byddech chi'n gwasanaethu fel rheithiwr eto, a oes unrhyw beth y byddech chi'n ei wneud yn wahanol neu unrhyw welliannau yr hoffech chi GLlTEF eu gwneud?
Yn onest, na. Ystyriwyd fy marn ac aeth popeth yn dda. Aeth popeth yn llyfn, a soniodd y 3 cyfieithydd y bûm yn gweithio gyda nhw pa mor ddi-dor ydoedd, gan ystyried mai dyma'r tro cyntaf i reithiwr byddar ddefnyddio cyfieithwyr yn yr ystafell drafod.
Beth fyddech chi'n ei ddweud wrth bobl fyddar eraill sydd wedi cael gwŷs rheithgor?
Ewch amdani! Mae pobl fyddar bellach yn cael cyfle cyfartal i wasanaethu ar reithgor ar ôl blynyddoedd lawer o beidio â gallu gwneud hynny.
A Toby, fel Rheolwr y Rheithgor yn Llys y Goron Caerlŷr, beth yw eich profiadau chi pan fydd person byddar wedi gwasanaethu ar reithgor yn eich llys?
Roedd yn eithaf diddorol mynd i mewn i'r llys i'w arsylwi, ac roedd yn teimlo fel peiriant a oedd yn gweithio’n dda. Nid oedd yr ystafell llys yn teimlo'n wahanol i'r arfer ac yn sicr roedd gwylio'r cyfieithwyr yn symud o gwmpas yn ddi-dor ac yn dawel heb darfu ar lif y tyst gan roi tystiolaeth yn wych.
Ar wahân i’r cyfieithwyr yn y llys, bu inni geisio cadw'r profiad mor normal â phosibl i'r rheithiwr. Rydym yn falch iawn bod y treial wedi mynd cystal ag y gallem fod wedi gobeithio amdano.
Ers moment hanesyddol Karen, mae GLlTEF wedi croesawu dros 40 yn rhagor o reithwyr byddar i gymryd rhan mewn panelau rheithgor, gan ddangos ein hymrwymiad parhaus i hygyrchedd. Rydym yn edrych ymlaen at y ffaith bod rheithwyr byddar yn parhau i chwarae rhan hanfodol yn ein Llysoedd y Goron, gan ddod â safbwyntiau amrywiol a chynrychioli'r cymunedau rydym yn eu gwasanaethu go iawn.
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