Drawbacks of the Jury System in the UK

Question from gug, Drawbacks of the Jury System in the UK

Answer from AI:

Introduction

• Overview of the jury system in the UK
• Historical context and current implementation
• Importance of discussing its drawbacks

Main Body

Lack of Expertise and Understanding

• Jurors’ unfamiliarity with legal terms and procedures
• Cheryl Thomas, “Are Juries Fair?”, Ministry of Justice Research Series 1/10, February 2010.
• Difficulty in understanding complex evidence
• Neil Vidmar and Valerie P. Hans, “American Juries: The Verdict,” Prometheus Books, 2007.
• Reliance on judge’s directions to navigate legal complexities
• Adrian Zuckerman, “The Jury in a Criminal Trial,” in The Oxford Handbook of Criminal Process, Oxford University Press, 2019.

Potential for Biases and Prejudices

• Impact of personal beliefs and experiences on decision-making
• Samuel R. Sommers and Michael I. Norton, “Race and Jury Selection: Psychological Perspectives on the Peremptory Challenge Debate,” American Psychologist 63, no. 6 (2008): 527-539.
• Media influence and pre-trial publicity affecting impartiality
• Cheryl Thomas, “Avoiding the Perfect Storm of Juror Contempt,” Criminal Law Review, 2011.
• Social and demographic factors influencing jury composition and verdicts
• Sean Doran and John Jackson, “The Jury in the Criminal Trial,” in The Oxford Handbook of Criminology, 5th ed., Oxford University Press, 2012.

Inefficiency and Cost

• Lengthy jury selection and trial processes
• Michael Zander, “A Matter of Justice: The Legal System in Ferment,” Oxford University Press, 1997.
• Financial burden on the legal system and participants
• Richard Cornes, “The Economic Costs of Jury Trials,” Oxford Journal of Legal Studies 14, no. 2 (1994): 255-269.
• Impact on jurors’ personal and professional lives
• Jon R. Conte, “Jury Stress: The Psychological Impact of Serving on a Jury,” Journal of Psychiatry & Law 15, no. 4 (1987): 481-490.

Conclusion

• Summary of key drawbacks of the jury system in the UK
• Reflection on the balance between democratic participation and the need for efficiency and expertise in the legal process
• Consideration of potential reforms and future directions

Note: This plan provides a structured approach to discussing the drawbacks of the jury system in the UK, highlighting key points supported by academic and legal sources. For detailed analysis and arguments, further research and consultation with legal texts and professionals are recommended.