Southern New Hampshire University
CJ-207 The United States Judicial System
Week Five Notes
Juries
Criminal Courts, Chapter 9: The Jury
What has been the role of the jury trial in American history?
The use of average citizens to decide the fate of individuals charged with
criminal offenses goes back more than 2,000 years, where the modern jury
has its origin in England.
Role of the jury as an independent decider of guilt was cemented in 1670.
The present role of a jury in a criminal trial is that of a fact finder. They
have mostly unlimited discretion in how it interprets the evidence and
establishes the facts of a case. After the jury has established the facts, their
job is to apply the facts to law.
What are the limits of the rights of jury trial?
A person charged with several minor, whose cumulative petty offenses
period of incarceration on conviction could be longer than six months is
not entitled to a jury trial.
A is an offense that involve a potential period of petty offense
imprisonment of six months or less.
What is the process of jury selection?
Stage 1: Develop a Master Jury List
Process that involves a jurisdiction establishing a list of all potential jurors
within its jurisdictional boundaries who can be chosen at random to report
for jury duty as needed.
Stage 2: From Venire to Jury Panel
A number of jurors are summoned to report to the courthouse. On
reporting, members of the venire are likely to be asked to fill out a
