Juries eval

Question 1

4 advantages

Answer 1

Public confidence
Jury equity
Secrecy
Impartial

Question 2

Cause of public confidence

Answer 2

• D is judged by ordinary people rather than legal experts
• Jury represents society and democracy

Question 3

Example of public confidence

Answer 3

Survey by Law Society - 80% would trust jury more than a judge

Question 4

Consequence for public confidence

Answer 4

Shows support and agreement with justice system and that it works

Question 5

Cause of jury equity

Answer 5

Fair - decide verdict according to what they think it morally right (don’t have to follow law if unfair)

Question 6

Example of jury equity

Answer 6

R v Owen - jury felt D been punished enough so found him not guilty despite evidence

Question 7

consequence of jury equity

Answer 7

fair/just decisions based on conscience whereas a judge would have to follow law

Question 8

cause of secrecy (advantage)

Answer 8

contempt of court act 81 makes it crime to share discussions from jury room and don’t have to give reasons for decision

Question 9

example of secrecy (advantage)

Answer 9

research shows jurors do appear to discuss evidence in detail and take standard of proof seriously
(higher acquittal rates in CC than Mags)

Question 10

consequence of secrecy (advantage)

Answer 10

if public, jurors may not be open and honest and feel pressured to a decision
also less will want to be jurors

Question 11

cause of impartiality

Answer 11

jury members cannot know anyone in a case

Question 12

example of impartiality

Answer 12

R v Wilson and Sprason - wife of prison officer overseeing D wasn’t allowed to sit on jury for fear of bias

Question 13

consequence of impartiality

Answer 13

should ensure decision is based purely on evidence and justice achieved

Question 14

cause of perverse decisions

Answer 14

could be ignoring law and basing decision on conscience or lack of understanding

Question 15

example of perverse decisions

Answer 15

R v Owen - D was definitely guilty but was allowed free because jury felt bad

Question 16

consequence of perverse decisions

Answer 16

defeats point of law if jury can ignore and denies D fair trial

Question 17

4 disadvantages of juries

Answer 17

perverse decisions
influence of modern tech
secrecy
risk of bias

Question 18

cause of influence of tech

Answer 18

info about cases and D is widely available on internet and may be discussed on social networks

Question 19

example of influence of tech

Answer 19

in 2010, 12% of jurors in high profile cases admitted to using internet
AG v Dallas was an issue and leg to Criminal courts and Justice Act 2015

Question 20

consequence of influence of modern tech

Answer 20

hard to stop jury using internet at home and not all info online is reliable - may be prejudice

Question 21

cause of secrecy (disadvantage)

Answer 21

Contempt of court act makes it an offence to share discussions in jury room and don’t need to give reasons

Question 22

example of secrecy (disadvantage)

Answer 22

R v Young - jury used Ouija board to ask V who killer was and found D guilty based on this

Question 23

consequence of secrecy (disadvantage)

Answer 23

can’t tell if jury are actually using evidence or random info

Question 24

cause of risk of bias

Answer 24

some people find certain jobs more or less honest or have prejudice against certain people

Question 25

example of risk of bias

Answer 25

Sander v UK - was shown that members of jury were making openly racist remarks about D which went against right to fair trial

Question 26

consequence of risk of bias

Answer 26

justice wasn’t achieved and hard to know if people have biases