March 18th 2015

Ms. DunneLP2 WOW

Daily Journal:

At some point in their adult lives, most Americans will be called to report for jury duty.

Do you think you would enjoy sitting on a jury, or would it feel like a chore?

On what type of case would you most like to serve as a juror? Explain your answers in a paragraph or two. 

Homework:

Read to Page 20 in 12 Angry Men: Download and answer Study Guide Questions/

Activity 1: American Jury Research

1. How is a person selected for Jury Service?

2. How frequently can a person serve on a jury?

3. Are jury members paid? If so, how so?

4. Do you think a Jury system could work in Turkey? Why or why not?

American Legal Terms:

Foreman: a juror chosen to lead a jury and deliver the verdict to the judge.

American Legal Terms:

Convict: to find the defendant guilty of the crime

Acquit—to find the defendant innocent

American Legal Terms:

Reasonable Doubt: This is the element in law that states that if some uncertainty exists, a juror must vote to acquit. Because jurors were not there to see the crime, they cannot be one hundred percent certain who is guilty; however, even without being certain, they may vote to convict if they believe the defendant committed the crime. If they have a real question in their minds as to the defendant's guilt or innocence, this is “reasonable doubt,” and they should vote to acquit.

American Legal Terms:

Innocent until proven guilty: a fundamental principal of law that means the state must prove guilt; the suspect does not have to prove innocence.

American Legal Terms:

The Fifth Amendment: a fundamental principle of law which states that a person cannot be forced to testify against him or herself in a court of law.

American Legal Terms:

Double Jeopardy: a fundamental principle of law that states that a person cannot be tried twice for the same crime; this means that if a defendant is acquitted, that person cannot be tried again for the same crime, even if evidence arises that proves that person's guilt.

American Legal Terms:

Cross-examine: to question a witness by the opposing counsel

Deliberate: to consider or discuss carefully

Premeditated: planned or plotted in advance.

American Legal Terms:

Homicide: the killing of one person by another

American Legal Terms:

Hung Jury: lack of agreement among jurors when instructed that a unanimous decision is required; a hung jury would require a retrial. 

Activity 2: Make Your Case

In Pairs: Log onto Haiku: Click on the link, labelled “Make Your Case” and put a pair of headphones into your computer that can be split between two people and follow the prompts on screen.

One of you will be the lawyer for the defendant, and one of you will be a lawyer for the plaintiff.