The Juror Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

The Juror - Term Paper Example The jury should decide the facts in the case and then apply the facts to the law. For all the Americans, trial by a jury is a basic constitutional right. The paper underscores the importance of getting a fair juror, who are capable of listening to the evidence presented and deciding the case based on facts rather than emotion. One may be summoned for one of the three core kinds of jury service, namely: a Grand juror, a State Grand Juror, or a Petit Juror. Juries are mainly comprised of people from all walks of life (intended to mirror the community) and does not require educational or skill requirements. Jurors are expected to remain impartial throughout the trial, weigh the evidence presented to them, and apply the law in an attempt to reach a verdict. Some people dislike the civic duty of being a juror and find all manner of excuses to disqualify themselves from this duty. In most case, requests to be excused are rarely granted, especially those based on religious beliefs, status, moral beliefs, and professional status (Sunstein, 2002). Most people cite inconvenience to a prospective trial juror; nevertheless, this not a legal reason to be excused from jury service though this may warrant postponement. Potential jurors are essentially picked from various sources such as voter registration list, identification cardholders, and lists of licensed drivers. Hence, some people do not understand the difference between â€Å"evidence† highlighted in the media and evidence presented during the trial. This presents difficulties especially when such people are selected to be jurors during a trial (Waldrep, 2010). In the first episode, the prosecutor (Gerald Lewis) presents his version of event where he depicts Singh as a psychopath. The victim’s family threatens the accused on his arrival in court, and later opts to influence the jurors. In the course of the second episode (The Jury (ITV1)), Marcia receives a phone call directing her that, for the sake of her family, it would be advisable for her to vote "guilty." In episode 3, Marcia continues to receive threats and informs the judge on the unfortunate developments; nevertheless, she agrees to stay on; the judge indicates that if any other juror is adversely influenced, he will call for a retrial. These scenes demonstrate the challenges associated with being a juror. Discussion Surveys conducted by American Bar Association have demonstrated that, three out of four Americans are confident in the jury system as the fairest way of determining whether the defendant is guilty or innocent in criminal cases. Jurors should weigh lawyers’ arguments, evidence, as well a witness testimonies presented to reach a decision; nevertheless, this does not prevent the possibility of being impacted by their life experiences, which may create a bias towards either side. The trial judge presides over the trial and outlines what laws apply. The judge instructs the jury as the proper law in every ca se. Although, there are claims that a jury can â€Å"nullify† the law, such a perception come out as legally inaccurate and severely prejudices the application of justice. Jurors who may disregard the trial judge’s instructions have contravened their oath. Once the jury has arrived at its verdict, the presiding juror fills in and signs the verdict form. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia held that the jury possesses an â€Å"unreviewable and irreversible power†