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Dbq Essay On The American Jury System

913 Words4 Pages

The American Jury System is a way for the people of the community to become involved in the judicial system. When court cases arise in some cases a jury will take place. The people on this jury make a decision on if the defendant is either guilty or innocent. This outcome has great power, and it's quite controversial if ordinary citizens should be able to make these big, influential decisions. The American Jury system should be kept because it is a staple of our democracy, allows citizens to be educated on the law, and produces fairer results for those who are accused. Firstly, the American Jury System gives the accused in court a fairer trial. It is a staple of our democracy. The system is based on the principle that a person accused of …show more content…

This creates a more diverse and representative decision-making process, which promotes fairness and justice. “I think it is really great that we have science, but we also have common sense,” Adamson told the Sentinel. “These guys (jurors) didn’t buy into science fiction.” (Document D) While judges are experts in the law, juries consist of ordinary people from various walks of life who bring diverse …show more content…

Juries are selected at random from the community, ensuring that the trial is not biased towards any particular group or individual. The use of juries in the legal system provides a system of checks and balances. “Of course trial by Jury is one of our sacred cows.” (Document B) The jury acts as a counterbalance to the power of judges and prosecutors, ensuring that no one person or group has too much influence over the outcome of the case. “According to the bottom source, 88% of bench trials result in a conviction and 87% of criminal trials result in a conviction.” (Document A) Juries are required to consider only the evidence presented in court and not be influenced by external factors such as media coverage or public opinion. This ensures that the decision-making process is based solely on the facts of the case and not on any preconceived notions or biases. In summary, juries promote fairness and impartiality in the legal system because they are representative of the community, consider only the evidence presented in court, deliberate to reach a consensus, are instructed on the law by judges, and act as a check on the power of judges and

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