Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

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Key definition

Mental disorder definition

What does Mental disorder mean? Mental disorder describes, in legal practice, a recognised psychological or psychiatric condition affecting the mind or behaviour, relevant to compulsory detention and treatment, decision‑making capacity, criminal responsibility, discrimination, and recovery of damages for psychiatric injury. The term is defined by statute in mental health legislation, with similar but not identical wording across the UK and Ireland. In England and Wales, the Mental Health Act 1983 defines it as any disorder or disability of the mind, with exclusions (including dependence on alcohol or drugs and limits relating to learning disability). Scotland’s Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 defines it as...

Jury Service in England and Wales: Eligibility, Selection, Excusal, Challenges and Trial Management under the Juries Act 1974 and Criminal Procedure Rules 2025

Published by a LexisNexis Corporate Crime expert

Practice notes

This Practice Note addresses the procedural matters relating to juries under the Act 1974.

Who is entitled to serve on a jury?

Section 1 of the Act 1974 (JA 1974) provides that all persons may sit on a jury so long as:

the individual is listed as a parliamentary or local government elector
is aged at least 18 and not over 75 years of age
has been usually resident in the UK, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man for any span totalling at least five years since reaching the age of 13, and
is not barred from jury service

The maximum age limit for jurors is 75 years old...

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Alex McHugh

Pump Court Chambers

Alex McHugh joined Pump Court Chambers following successful completion of his pupillage. His key areas of practice are criminal defence, family, and landlord & tenant disputes. Prior to joining Chambers, Alex worked as a paralegal for a number of years at a Legal 500 firm in London. Two of those years were spent in crime under the stewardship of extremely experienced senior partners. Alex helped manage cases from beginning to end and represented all manner of clients in respect of a full range of alleged offences. As counsel, Alex defends his clients throughout every stage of proceedings. Alex accepts private and, where applicable, publicly funded briefs on road traffic offences, and has experience in representing clients in relation to speeding, drinking driving, “totting up”, and causing injury by dangerous driving offences. Alex predominantly works across the Western Circuit, London, and the South East. ...

Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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