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Thread: Should there be a change in the jury system?

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    Default Should there be a change in the jury system?

    I don't know about you, but I would be afraid to have to stand trial today and be judged by a jury of my peers. Have you looked at most of the juries today, the majority of these people are only there because they couldn't come up with an excuse to get out of it. And on top of that I would have to question the intellect of a great deal of society. I know there is jury selection by the defense and prosecutor, but sometimes they don't have a lot to work with. I don't have any alternatives, just wondering if anyone here has any ideas. It seems like it comes down to who has the best legal team,(ie OJ) than rather guilt or innocence, and that just scares me.
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    Default Re: Should there be a change in the jury system?

    I've personally thought that a jury should be made up of a group of people who are schooled in law, philosophy, or anything like it. Simple "laypersons" should not be on the jury. I only say this because it seems that the more "uneducated" folks don't seem to "get it".

    I also think that trials should be shortened. Sequestering a group of people for 9 months or so...keeping them from their jobs is very annoying. I know I would be annoyed. You either have a case you can prove...or you don't. A lot of prosecuters seem to suffer from "over the top" syndrome. You pick the best of the best to deal with a situation and leave the others as "support" if they're needed. Hearing from 3 different experts about the same conclusion...and 23 days of testimony from those 3 witnesses just seems WAY too much.

    As much as I'd hate to say this, I also think that "reasonable inference" should not be allowed in the courtroom. If you have a murder weapon, a defendant and prints that point to the defendant, then you have a case. However, I do not believe that the Peterson trial was done correctly...and I believe that it helped open the door even further to convicting people without evidence.

    But, that's just me.

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    God/dess Deogol's Avatar
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    Default Re: Should there be a change in the jury system?

    Reminds me of a Chappelle Show skit called Law And Order - I don't see a link for that one though....

    Here is "Trial Selection for Micheal Jackson"

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    Jay Zeno
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    Default Re: Should there be a change in the jury system?

    Amendment VI of the U.S. Constitution gives the accused the right to a trial by an impartial jury. It's commonly accepted that the accused can waive that right and be tried by the judge alone.

    As we've discussed in other threads, the amending of the Constitution is no easy task, and that's a good thing.

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    Default Re: Should there be a change in the jury system?

    I agree with Jay-- I think our Constitution is just fine when it comes to the subject of trials .

    We have many rights in our legal system and the choice of a jury is one of the best ones imho.

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    Default Re: Should there be a change in the jury system?

    The problem with juries isn't our judicial system; it's with trial lawyers--the source of so damn much evil in this country.

    No trial lawyer worth a damn will let anyone with a functioning frontal lobe sit on the jury, which, for example, would rule out just about anyone here on the SW PP forum. It is in their interest, particularly in civil suits but also in most criminal cases, to have the dumbest, most naive and malleable sons of bitches sitting in the jury pool if they can use their exemptions to achieve that goal.

    This isn't going to change anytime soon, since the Dumbing Down of America continues unabated--there's always plenty of idiots for lawyers to choose.
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    Jay Zeno
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    Default Re: Should there be a change in the jury system?

    Actually, CO, there's plenty of states where trial lawyers are limited in their peremptory challenges to a certain small number and aren't allowed wide latitude on their challenges for cause. We do see that system run a bit amok in celebrity trials.

    If I had to change anything, I'd limit peremptory challenges to none or just a couple. They get who they get.

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    Default Re: Should there be a change in the jury system?

    but I would be afraid to have to stand trial today and be judged by a jury of my peers. Have you looked at most of the juries today, the majority of these people are only there because they couldn't come up with an excuse to get out of it. And on top of that I would have to question the intellect of a great deal of society. I know there is jury selection by the defense and prosecutor, but sometimes they don't have a lot to work with. I don't have any alternatives, just wondering if anyone here has any ideas.

    If you're specifically referring to dancers potentially facing a judge and jury over bogus lewd conduct/prostitution/contact charges, I only have one idea - cop the plea. When it comes to a 'stripper' trying to explain to a jury comprised of jealous housewives, conservative retirees, civil service bozos etc. how she was only shaking her tits and ass 6 1/2" away from somebody's husband in full compliance with the law, fugeddaboudit.

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    Featured Member GnBeret's Avatar
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    Default Re: Should there be a change in the jury system?

    Quote Originally Posted by Casual Observer
    No trial lawyer worth a damn will let anyone with a functioning frontal lobe sit on the jury, which, for example, would rule out just about anyone here on the SW PP forum. It is in their interest, particularly in civil suits but also in most criminal cases, to have the dumbest, most naive and malleable sons of bitches sitting in the jury pool if they can use their exemptions to achieve that goal.
    Comparing jury selection in civil vs. criminal cases is like comparing apples and oranges - very different rules apply, and the attorneys' respective goals re desireable juror types, intelligence levels, and life experiences are completely different. And depending upon the kind of civil case involved, no attorney worth a damn will let a dumbass sit on the jury!

    To the extent your experience has been that the attorneys are trying to find idiots to seat on the jury, I'd suggest you watch a little closer - it's usually only one of the two sides that's pushing in that direction when it happens, and they're doing so for a reason!
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    Rebuildme
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    Default Re: Should there be a change in the jury system?

    You should have to pass some type of common sense and i.q. type of test.

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    Featured Member GnBeret's Avatar
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    Default Re: Should there be a change in the jury system?

    Quote Originally Posted by Rebuildme
    You should have to pass some type of common sense and i.q. type of test.
    Ah, but theoetically, at least, you already have to under the current system - it's called voir dire.
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    Default Re: Should there be a change in the jury system?

    Quote Originally Posted by Casual Observer
    The problem with juries isn't our judicial system; it's with trial lawyers--the source of so damn much evil in this country.

    No trial lawyer worth a damn will let anyone with a functioning frontal lobe sit on the jury, which, for example, would rule out just about anyone here on the SW PP forum. It is in their interest, particularly in civil suits but also in most criminal cases, to have the dumbest, most naive and malleable sons of bitches sitting in the jury pool if they can use their exemptions to achieve that goal.
    Smells like bait. Could be sushi...but it smells like bait. I'll pass.

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