JURY SELECTION IN CRIMINAL TRIALS - NEW TECHNIQUES AND CONCEPTS

• NCJ Number: 68472
• Author(s): A F GINGER
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 1212 pages
• Sale Source: Lawpress Corporation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

FOR LAWYERS AND OTHERS INTERESTED IN IMPROVING THE JURY SYSTEM, THIS MANUAL PRESENTS ISSUES RELATED TO JURY SELECTION IN CRIMINAL TRIALS, IN VIEW OF THE HISTORIC UNDERREPRESENTATION ON JURIES OF MINORITIES AND THE POOR.

Abstract

THE BOOK OFFERS JURY SELECTION TECHNIQUES THAT HAVE PROVED SUCCESSFUL IN CRIMINAL CASES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, IN BOTH STATE AND FEDERAL COURTS, MAINLY IN SHOWCASE TRIALS THAT RECEIVE MAXIMUM MEDIA COVERAGE. IT ATTEMPTS TO PROVIDE TIME-SAVING IDEAS, APPROACHES, FORMS, AND CITATIONS THAT CAN BE USED TO IMPROVE JURY SELECTION IN EVERY CASE. IT ALSO PROVIDES ENOUGH INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIAL TO ENABLE ANY COMMUNITY TO CHALLENGE A MAJOR PROBLEM THAT COULD NOT BE UNDERTAKEN BY ONE PERSON ALONE. DISCUSSION COVERS RECENT SIGNIFICANT CASES INCLUDING THE ANGELA DAVIS AND HUEY NEWTON TRIALS, MAJOR JURY TRIAL ISSUES OF THE 1970'S, AND RECENT PROBLEMS OF AND PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS FOR GRAND AND PETIT JURIES. INITIAL PRETRIAL PROCEEDINGS ARE EXAMINED, INCLUDING ARGUMENTS FOR CHALLENGING GRAND JURY SELECTION. VARIED FORMS ARE GIVEN FOR CHALLENGING GRAND JURY SELECTION METHODS, FOR OBTAINING A CHANGE OF VENUE TO SECURE AN IMPARTIAL JURY, AND FOR OBTAINING DISMISSAL ON JURY GROUNDS. ALSO DISCUSSED ARE CHALLENGES TO THE TRIAL JURY, THE PROCEDURE OF VOIR DIRE, AND INVESTIGATIONS OF THE JURY PANEL. THE ISSUE OF RACISM AND FAIR TRIALS IS EXPLORED IN A SECTION ON THE SOCIOLOGY OF JURY SELECTION. OTHER TOPICS DISCUSSED INCLUDE PEREMPTORY CHALLENGES, PROSECUTION PEREMPTORIES OF MINORITY JURORS, AND DEFENSE VOIR DIRE, USING EXTENSIVE EXAMPLES FROM SIGNIFICANT CASES. THE CLOSING ARGUMENTS TO THE JURY ARE RELATED TO THE JUROR'S VOIR DIRE ANSWERS, AND THE COMPLEX ISSUE OF JURORS' DUTY AS COMMUNITY CONSCIENCE IS EXAMINED. SPECIAL PROBLEMS OF WOMEN IN THE COURTROOM ARE ALSO DESCRIBED. A TABLE OF FORMS IS PROVIDED, AND CURRENT CITATIONS FOR ALL CASES ARE GIVEN IN THE TABLE OF CASES. ADDITIONAL SOURCE MATERIALS ARE PROVIDED IN THE JUNE 1977 BITENNIAL SUPPLEMENT. TABULAR DATA ARE GIVEN.