Essay Gallery The Jury System.
The balance of strength and weakness.
Naoko Hagiwara
In this essay I research the jury system because Japan doesn't have any jury system. I am going to cover two main points. I want to explore the good points and bad points. First, I will show you the good point that public opinion is reflected well, then, I will cover the bad point that jurymen are emotional.
In any study of jury system, it is important to know the background details. The jury system has been adopted in America. Everyone gets fair hearing that is a protection against abuse of power, so it is true that the jury system has many good points for us. However, in fact, it has a few bad points. Hence, we must focus our attention on both.
What are the causes of the jury system? I think jury system is caused by trying to ensure fair trials. The effects are that the opinion of the nation is reflected in justice, the nation has interest in justice, and the way of justice has become careful to persuade the jury.
I want to explore the good points. First, I will show you one good point is that public opinion is reflected well. According to an article from the NY Times, an ordinary housewife killed her children. She was suffering severe neurosis from childcare. However, she was found not guilty by the verdict of jury, because she was so confused, not intentionally, the jurymen sympathized with her. Anyone could be like her. According to the article, I think we need the jury system, because the opinion of the nation is reflected in justice. In the case of the housewife who killed her children, the verdict of the jury is reflected well. The social problems must be reflected in many people's opinion, because the social problems like neurosis from childcare could happen to everyone.
I have shown the good point that public opinion is reflected well, now I will cover the bad point of jurymen being emotional. I have discovered the Simpson case from the Law office of Welfare Wm. Hofheinz. Simpson is a black American football player. He was suspected of killing his friend and former wife. He was arrested on the charge of murder. However, he was released by the verdict of the jury in 1995. The Simpson case makes me think that the jury system has some problems. First, the judgement is easily influenced by the emotions of jurymen. Second, jurymen are not professional. In the case of Simpson, jurymen might be deceived by the great skill in narrative of the lawyer, because they do not have enough knowledge. As a result, it is a problem in America that the rich can win a suit, while the poor cannot win a suit, because the rich can employ an excellent lawyer.
In brief I have shown the advantage that public opinion is reflected well, and then I covered the disadvantage that jurymen are emotional. The situation might deteriorate if many people do not want to do the duty of the jury. I think Japan will introduce the jury system because the jury system is fairer than a single judgement. Moreover, the opinion of the nation should be reflected in justice.
Bibliography of Reference
Herbert, B (2002) Deciding Who Will Live, The New York Times
