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"Offering an alternative view of the jury process, this book argues that each stage transforms ordinary citizens, who are oftentimes reluctant to serve on juries, into responsible jurors. Jurors, Professor Marder argues, are not found, but rather they are made and shaped by the jury process. This book analyzes each stage of this process, from initial summons to post-verdict interview, and shows how these stages equip jurors with experiences and knowledge that allow them to perform their new role ably. It adopts a holistic approach to the subject of jury reform and suggests reforms that will aid the transformation of citizens into jurors. By studying the jury from the perspective of jurors, it gives readers a better understanding of what takes place during jury trials and allows them to see juries, jurors, and the jury process in a new light"--
List of contents
Introduction; 1. The summons and the setting: Beginning the transformation of citizens into jurors; 2. Voir Dire: Introducing jurors to the judge, their fellow jurors, and their role; 3. Peremptory challenges: A barrier that unnecessarily limits who can serve as jurors; 4. Jury instructions: Reinforcing group identity and making instructions accessible to jurors; 5. Jury deliberations: Performing the jury's main task with occasional assistance from the judge; 6. The post-verdict interview: How judges can help jurors in their transformation from jurors to engaged citizens; Conclusion.
About the author
Nancy S. Marder is a Professor of Law and Director of the Justice John Paul Stevens Jury Center at IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law. In the fall of 2021, she was a Visiting Professor of Law at Yale Law School. Professor Marder writes about juries, judges, and courts and presents her work in the United States and abroad. She is a co-editor of Juries, Lay Judges, and Mixed Courts: A Global Perspective (2021).
Summary
Offering an alternative perspective of the jury process, this book argues that each stage transforms citizens into responsible jurors. It analyses each stage, from summons to post-verdict interview, showing how the stages fit together and demonstrating how the jury process equips jurors with the ability to perform their new role.
Foreword
Demonstrates how each stage of the jury process transforms citizens into responsible jurors.
