Members of Parliament passed amendments widening the jury pool on Friday.

Junior Minister of Justice Michael Scott said increasing the number of people eligible to serve on the jury would strengthen the judicial process.

The amendments to the Jurors Act will see the age of eligibility rise from 65 to 70. Justices of the Peace will also be eligible for jury. Bermuda currently has 523 JPs.

Vets and dentists will also no longer be exempt from jury service, nor will spouses of MPs, barristers and prison officers.

Religious ministers and attorneys who do not actively engage in criminal law will also be eligible to be jurors.

Former Police, reserve Police and prison officers will also be eligible five years after they have completed their service.

Minister Scott said it was necessary to widen the pool: "Recent challenges have arisen in the Supreme Court with respect to jury selection as a result of the disqualification and exemption of large numbers of persons from jury service. In particular, there appears to be a reduction in the number of persons who actually qualify for jury service.

"In these circumstances, trials have been delayed until sufficient persons are identified for jury selection, thereby compromising the effective administration of justice."

Opposition deputy leader Trevor Moniz said he was pleased with the amendments but said it was important to educate people about their civic duty and the importance of being on a jury.

Bermuda Democratic Alliance Shawn Crockwell said he was slightly concerned that former prison guards and Police could be biased as a jury member because they may have had previous contact with the defendant.

Government MP Ashfield DeVent, who often covers trials for VSB, said he was pleased with the move as he has seen trials delayed due to a lack of eligible jurors.

But he added that Bermudians attitude need to change.

"We need people to realise it is their civic duty," he said. "I have seen people come up with the worst excuses to get out of jury duty. Last week one guy said 'I believe all defendants are innocent' to get out of it.

"The same people who complain that the system is not working and complain that crime is going up are not willing to do jury duty."

Progressive Labour Party MPs Zane DeSilva, Wayne Perinchief, Michael Weeks, and Paula Cox also spoke in agreement with the motion, as did United Bermuda Party MP John Barritt.