Juries

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  • Created by: CharQ
  • Created on: 29-04-16 18:40

Juries

Advantages

  • Decisions based on common sense for justice (Bushell's case 1670)
  • Public have confidence ("The lamp that shows that freedom lives")
  • Jury equity- decide cases based on fairness
  • Opens up the legal system
  • Unbiased
  • Secrecy keeps jurors free from pressure
  • Jury is impartial
  • Cross section of society

Disadvantages

  • May reach decisions using unauthorised methods (R v Young)
  • Do not have to give reasons so it is difficult to know if they've reached the right decision with the right process
  • May be influenced by the media in high profile cases (R v West)
  • May reach perverse decision (R v Blythe)
  • May be racial bias/prejudice
  • May not understand legal/technical points
  • May not understand verbal/written communicate
  • Fraud trials can last a long time
  • May rush to end the trial
  • May be nobbled/threatened/traumatised
  • May be influenced by strong personalities

Evaluation

JURIES ACT 1974 (amended by the criminal justice act 2003)

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