SECTION 4: Jury Essay Framework CRIM580 EXAM FINAL

Introduction

Jury should be maintained benefits outweigh weaknesses

1. First argument for jury essay?

Citizens participate in justice

2. Evidence for community participation?

Reflects community values and peers trust outcomes when peers decide

3. Counterargument for community participation?

Jurors may be personally biased

Second argument for jury?

Protection against state power, safeguard against judicial abuse

Evidence for protection against state power?

Mutiple citizens decide, reducing power concentration

Counterargument for protection against state power?

Judges are legally trained to be consistent, relying on untrained citizens might lead to legally incorrect outcomes

Third argument for jury?

Collective decision making

Evidence of decision making?

Multiple perspectives and group deliberation reduce error

Counterargument?

Dominant personalities can influence decisions

Fourth argument for jury?

Jury competence criticisms, Jurors can struggle with complex evidence

Evidence for jury competence criticisms

Complex scientific evidence and media influence

Counterargument for jury competence criticisms?

Judges give directions and reforms can improve juries

Jury conclusion?

Should be maintained not abolished. Imperfect but democratic safeguard