Jurors struggle to understand judges

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
17/02/2010 11:50

Two-thirds of jurors in criminal trials do not fully understand a judge's legal directions, a study of juries suggests. Some jurors were tempted to search online to find out more about the case they were hearing, the two-year study for the Ministry of Justice said. The simulated trials included looking at whether jurors understood the legal directions given by a judge to help them understand exactly how a defendant could have committed an offence. The research team asked some jurors at Winchester Crown Court to recall two specific and key questions that the judge gave in a case where a defendant was charged with violence but claimed self-defence.

Almost 70% said the judge's direction was easy to understand but only 31% of them then correctly recalled the two legal questions on his right to defend himself. A fifth did not recall either of the key issues.



Is there an argument for 'professional Jurors?

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
17/02/2010 11:53

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8519138.stm