Jury Reform

Jury Reform
	THE AMERICAN JURY BULWARK OF DEMOCRACY		About the Project Constitutional Rights Foundation Chicago Chicago Historical Society National Endowment for the Humanities
AN ONLINE RESOURCE GUIDE
Lessons and Activities Jury Trials for the Classroom Resources from the Chicago Historical Society Web Resources Print Resources Site Index HISTORY AND PURPOSE Origins of the American Jury Formation of the American Jury STRUCTURE Introduction to Trial by Jury Grand Jury Right of the Accused to Trial by Jury Jury Selection: Voir Dire Jury of One's Peers Jury Deliberation ISSUES Evidence Jury Nullification Jury Trials and the Media Jury Damage Awards Comparative Jury Systems FUTURE Jury in American Society Jury Reform Future of the American Jury		The jury is an evolving institution in American life. With so many people called for jury service each year, and so much attention paid to high profile jury trials, there is great concern that the public understands and appreciates the importance of juries. A number of states are now involved in testing and incorporating changes to improve it. Similar ideas have been introduced and used in the federal courts. Changes in the jury system almost always reflect assumptions about the purposes of the jury and how best to achieve them. What is the best way to create a jury? How should judges and attorneys treat jurors? What is the best way for jurors to "learn" during a trial? How do courts ensure that people appear for jury service? This section of "The American Jury" provides classroom lessons for exploring what assumptions students have about the purposes of the jury and whether current formats are effective in meeting those goals. It also includes resources that show how citizens across the country are shaping and using trial by jury.		LIST OF LESSONS Jury Reform Jigsaw: Discussion Points and Guidelines What are the Purposes of the Jury? (rating activity/selection activity) Why is the Jury System Important? LINKS TO RELEVANT SITES Arizona Supreme Court Committee on More Effective Use of Juries Colorado Supreme Court Jury Reform Committee Florida Jury Innovations Committee New York Jury Project Washington State Jury Commission Court Explores Post-Trial Counseling for Jurors Jury System on Trial - Justice System Reforms A California Justice Takes Stand for Jurors
		PRINT RESOURCES American Judicature Society. Behind Closed Doors: A Resource Manual to Improve Jury Deliberations. _________________________. Enhancing the Jury System: A Guidebook for Jury Reform. Boatright, Robert G. Improving Citizen Response to Jury Summonses: A Report with Recommendations, (1998), American Judicature Society. Fried, Rinat. "A California Justice Takes Stand for Jurors," The Recorder/Cal Law, May 11, 1999. Landsman, Stephan. "The Civil Jury in America: Scenes from an Unappreciated History," 44 Hastings Law Journal 579 (1993), pp. 579-619. Magnell, Denise. "Court Explores Post-Trial Counseling for Jurors," American Lawyer Media, March 3, 2000. VIDEO RESOURCES American Judicature Society. Cornerstone of Democracy: The U.S. Jury System, 1996.
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