Much of the research on juror decision making is concerned with whether jurors are swayed by irrelevant-or extralegal-issues in their judgments of defendants . ... The present study uses data gathered from actual jurors to assess whether the emphasis on juror competence is justified.
How do jurors make their decision?
At all times, the Judge presiding over the trial will be seeking a unanimous verdict from the jury . This is a verdict upon which all of the jurors are agreed, whether that is guilty or not guilty. In the early stages of jury deliberation a Judge is prevented by law from accepting a majority verdict.
What is it called when a jury is making a decision?
Verdict : The formal decision or finding made by a jury, which has been impaneled and sworn for the trial of a case, and reported to the court. Once the verdict has been reached, the jury is brought back into the courtroom.
Why is jury decision making important?
Because the jury system lies at the heart of our judicial system , understanding factors affecting the decisions they make and the processes by which these decisions are made is of paramount importance in operating a fair justice system.
Do all 12 jurors have to agree?
All jurors should deliberate and vote on each issue to be decided in the case. ... In a civil case, the judge will tell you how many jurors must agree in order to reach a verdict. In a criminal case, the unanimous agreement of all 12 jurors is required .
Is the jury’s decision final?
The decision of a jury is called a verdict . A jury is charged with hearing the evidence presented by both sides in a trial, determining the facts of the case, applying the relevant law to the facts, and voting on a final verdict. ... In cases involving a major crime the verdict must be unanimous.
Do jurors make good decisions?
In most instances, the verdict in a criminal case must be unanimous . In some states a less than unanimous decision is permitted in civil cases. All federal cases require a unanimous decision. ... If the jurors cannot agree on a verdict, a hung jury results, leading to a mistrial.
Do jurors speak in court?
In the Jury Deliberation Room
Do not be afraid to speak out during deliberations . The whole idea of a jury is to come to a decision after full and frank discussion of the evidence and the instructions, based on calm, unbiased reasoning. In civil cases, it takes nine jurors to reach a verdict.
What are the three verdicts a jury can give?
The verdict must be unanimous . (b) Partial Verdicts, Mistrial, and Retrial. (1) Multiple Defendants. If there are multiple defendants, the jury may return a verdict at any time during its deliberations as to any defendant about whom it has agreed.
Is it better to have a judge or jury?
Lawyer folk wisdom often points to choosing a jury if a case has emotional appeal, and choosing a judge if a case is complex and based on technical legal questions. Of course, you may end up with a jury trial even if you prefer a judge trial because your adversary may have an independent right to request a jury trial.
How does attractiveness influence jury decision making?
This uncertainty may cause jurors to rely on extra-legal factors in decision-making. According to the attractiveness bias, jurors may be more inclined to side with an attractive defendant , as evidenced in prior mock juror studies.
What affects jury decision making?
Variables considered include demographic information on jurors, personal characteristics of trial participants , influence of trial publicity on jurors, juror satisfaction with the verdict, and dynamics of the deliberation process. ...
How do jurors disconnect themselves from decision making?
Disobeying court instructions .
Jurors could be removed if they don’t follow important instructions from the judge, such as not using cell phones during trial proceedings, avoiding media coverage of the case, or not bringing outside information into the jury room.
What happens if only one juror disagrees?
If even one member of the jury disagrees with the decision of all of the other jurors, the jury is hung . When the jury comes back into the courtroom and announces that they have been unable to reach a verdict, the judge may direct them to go back and keep deliberating until they reach a unanimous verdict.
What happens if all 12 jurors don’t agree?
If the jury cannot agree on all counts as to any defendant, the jury may return a verdict on those counts on which it has agreed . . . . If the jury cannot agree on a verdict on one or more counts, the court may declare a mistrial on those counts. A hung jury does not imply either the defendant’s guilt or innocence.
What’s the longest a jury has deliberated?
v. Monsanto Co., Case No. 80-L-970, heard in the 20th Circuit, State of Illinois, USA. The case ran for over four years with over 600 days of actual trial days on record.
