What are the benefits of serving on a jury?
The role of the jury is to provide unbiased views or resolution to evidence presented in a case in a court of law. Jury service helps to support fairness in trials; jury service is able to give impartial viewpoints on cases that are presented in court.
Why is it important to have a jury of your peers?
One of your rights when you go to trial for a criminal offense is that you get to have a jury of your peers. Essentially, it’s just a way to get a fair jury made up of citizens who could be considered peers of the person who is on trial. This is a way to reduce the chances of bias in the jury.
What does a jury of your peers actually mean?
jury of one’s peers. n. a guaranteed right of criminal defendants, in which “peer” means an “equal.” This has been interpreted by courts to mean that the available jurors include a broad spectrum of the population, particularly of race, national origin and gender.
How does the jury reach its decision?
The jury must reach its verdict by considering only the evidence introduced in court and the directions of the judge. The jury does not interpret the law. It follows the directions of the judge as regards legal matters. During all stages of the trial, jurors may take notes of proceedings.
Why are juries used?
Juries in criminal cases are used to decide the guilt or innocence of the defendant. Juries are used in civil cases to decide the liability and on the damages for the following cases; deformation, malicious prosecution, fraud and false imprisonment. The use of a jury is viewed as making the legal system more open.
Are juries a good thing?
People who serve on juries have a greater respect for the system when they leave. Serving on a jury gives people insight into the justice system and their own communities, and corrects misapprehensions about what takes place in a courtroom. . Jury trials provide a method of peaceful dispute resolution.
Does everyone on the jury have to agree?
All jurors should deliberate and vote on each issue to be decided in the case. In a criminal case, the unanimous agreement of all 12 jurors is required.
Can one person cause a hung jury?
Because the case can be retried, a hung jury caused by one or more conscientious objectors to the law who voted not guilty even though they believed the law was broken does not constitute jury nullification in the strictest sense of the term.
Do juries have to be unanimous?
A verdict on any charge must be unanimous, but the jury can choose to convict Chauvin of one or some of the charges but not others. If the jurors cannot come to an agreement, the case would end in a mistrial.