American juries : the verdict
(Book)

Includes bibliographical references (pages 347-397) and index.

This comprehensive volume reviews over fifty years of empirical research on civil and criminal juries and returns a verdict that strongly supports the jury system. Rather than relying on anecdotes, the authors place the jury system in its historical and contemporary context, giving the stories behind important trials while providing fact-based answers to critical questions. They consider various suggestions for improving the way that juries are asked to carry out their duties. After briefly comparing the American jury to its counterparts in other nations, they conclude that our jury system, despite occasional problems, is, on balance, fair and democratic, and should remain an indispensable component of the judicial process for the foreseeable future. -- From book jacket.