How does a jury trial work?

How does a jury trial work?

The trial is a structured process where the facts of a case are presented to a jury, and they decide if the defendant is guilty or not guilty of the charge offered. During trial, the prosecutor uses witnesses and evidence to prove to the jury that the defendant committed the crime(s).

What are the disadvantages of a jury?

There are a number of disadvantages to having a trial by jury. As the people on a jury do not generally have a legal background, it is possible that they may not entirely understand complex legal documents or argument, or in-depth forensic evidence.

What are the benefits of a jury?

6 Amazing Benefits of Jury Duty

• Learn About the System. Knowledge is power, and unless you went to school for something law related, your understanding of the legal system is pretty limited.
• Meet New People.
• A Sense of Authority and Empowerment.
• A Break From Work.
• Check Some Items off Your Personal To Do List.
• You Can Make a Difference.

What are the advantages of a jury?

The Advantages of a Jury Trial

• The chance to have a decision made by a number of people rather than one single person, which can reduce the likelihood of bias against you or your circumstances.
• The opportunity to be tried by your peers, who may be more likely to relate to your personal situation than a judge or magistrate.

Why is the jury system bad?

Juries are biased. Juries disregard the judge’s instructions or the law itself when reaching a verdict. Juries know too much about a case from media publicity to be able to render a fair judgment, or juries know too little and are unable to comprehend the issues in complex cases.

What type of cases require a jury?

The use of juries in civil cases is limited, and in New South Wales usually only occurs in defamation cases. In civil cases the jury decides whether the defendant is liable on the balance of probabilities. Majority verdicts in civil cases are also allowed for now under the Jury Act 1977, section 57.

What are two reasons why people might support trial by jury?

Jury trials educate jurors about the justice system. 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. .