Juries are not qualified to judge questions of law, but they are very capable of judging questions of fact.
A jury is composed of twelve men of average ignorance.
The grand jury, composed of 12 eminent New Orleans citizens, heard our evidence and indicted the defendant for participation in a conspiracy to assassinate John Kennedy.
Prosecutors have absolutely no control over what witnesses say when they leave the grand jury room.
I've served on five different juries, and many of them were bonkers in their own way.
The jury has the right to determine both the law and the facts.
Jury instructions are so numerous and complex, it's a wonder jurors ever wade through them. And so it should come as no surprise that they can sometimes get stuck along the way. The instruction on circumstantial evidence is confusing even to lawyers. And reasonable doubt? That's the hardest, most elusive one of all.
'Twelve Angry Men' was done with an intermission, and I took that out. I really wanted an audience to feel like they had no break, just like those jurors, and you're not going to get out of that room until you come to a decision.
I've led a grand jury.
In court, jurors are admonished by the judge at every recess not to discuss the case or form any opinions until the case is given to them for deliberations. Of course, there is no such limitation on the public.
I got put on jury duty, which is where I learned how to write.
Serving jury duty is a fascinating little slice of life, with its motley crew of personalities.
