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- Title
IMPANELED AND INEFFECTIVE: THE ROLE OF LAW SCHOOLS AND CONSTITUTIONAL LITERACY PROGRAMS IN EFFECTIVE JURY REFORM.
- Authors
ROYAL, K.; HOFMAN, DARRA L.
- Abstract
Trial by jury may be a constitutional right, but the jury system in practice does not always successfully carry out its duty. Jury reform has been a viable, active field of study since at least the mid-1990s, with some of the most significant advances made in Arizona. This Article analyzes one aspect of jury reform by considering the impact of civic education on jury success. Studies have cited juror participation, jury instructions, and hung juries as points of failure in the jury system. In particular, hung juries have reported questions about the quality of evidence and sentiments about the fairness of the law as critical reasons for not reaching a verdict. One solution that has been proposed is to provide a mini-course in legal procedures once a jury is impaneled. In this Article, we examine the possibility of constitutional literacy provided in the public education system as a solution for the aforementioned aspects of jury failure. Good citizenship is no less important to the democracy and health of our nation than are science and math. Frankly, good citizenship is a right and a responsibility. As a nation, we need to equip our people with the basics. Through a successful civic education program, the legal system could also have an impact on other vital interests, such as encouraging minorities to become attorneys and engaging a diversity of views.
- Subjects
ARIZONA; UNITED States; JURY reform; RIGHT to trial by jury; LAW schools; CIVICS education; JURY; STUDY &; teaching of constitutional law; HUNG juries; JURY instructions; CONSTITUTIONAL history
- Publication
Denver University Law Review, 2013, Vol 90, Issue 4, p959
- ISSN
0883-9409
- Publication type
Article