The Right To A Free Trial :: essays research papers

The Right To A Free TrialOne of the most important freedoms in the Ameri thunder mug judicial system isthe right to a board trial. This allows a minimum of six Americans, chosen froma list of registered voters, to determine a persons guilt or innocence throughdeliberations. They have the exponent to express the conscious of society as wellas interpret and judge the laws themselves. If they feel that a law isunconstitutional, evil, or even un light they can void it for the circumstance bydeclaring the defendant not-guilty. The power of the jury is enormous andthrough time has make out more equitable by decreasing the limitations to become ajuror including race and sex. Part of the reasoning behind the right to a jurytrial is to limit government power. Although judges should be fair and just,total power is too strong, and could be used to aid some people while harmingothers. As someone once said, Power corrupts sometimes, but domineering powercorrupts absolutely. Many people thoug ht anarchy would form through the use ofa jury system, but no such thing has occurred. It has produced a feeling ofinvolvement in the judicial system and government itself. Throughout this essay,a comparison of a real jury, a simulated jury, and Hollywoods perception of ajury will be discussed. The television special, Inside the Jury Room, showed avideotaping of a real livelihood jury as seen in a humbled criminal courtroom. The casewas Wisconsin v. Leroy Reed, a criminal trial for the possession of a firearm byan ex-convict. The simulated jury concerned an ex-military man who shot devilpolice officers, killing one and seriously injuring another. The police hadbroken into his house because there was probable cause to believe he had drugs.The man shot the officers because he thought they were robbing his house. TheHollywood version, titled 12 Angry Men, revolved around a teenage boy who wasaccused of murdering his father and could possibly lose his life if found guilty.The topics of jury selection and appearance, the jurors understanding of theirsignificance, and the deliberation and verdict will be examined for the threejuries.The actual jury itself, has much bearing on how a verdict will result.Are the members compassionate? Rigid? Black? White? Rich? or Poor? All ofthese factors can influence a jury this is why lawyers are so critical whenmaking their decisions. In the past, juries only admitted white males, as in 12Angry Men. Discrimination against blacks has always existed and until the 15th amendment was passed, and the Grandfather Clause, White Primaries, and