Author Question: A defense attorney is choosing jurors. In order to help your client avoid a severe charge, what sort ... (Read 106 times)

burton19126 · **on:** Jun 22, 2018

A defense attorney is choosing jurors. In order to help your client avoid a severe charge, what sort of jury would you select?

a. twelve people who all feel exactly the same way, very little diversity
b. equal numbers of males and females
c. It doesn't matter; the system guarantees a fair trial.
d. at least a couple of jurors who may hold a minority opinion on the case

Question 2

How do jurors make sense of the large amount of information presented during the trial? What are the implications for how jurors process information for legal strategy?

What will be an ideal response?

tofugiraffe · **Reply #1 on:** Jun 22, 2018

Answer to Question 1

Answer: D

Answer to Question 2

Answer: Research has revealed that jurors typically make sense of all the evidence by constructing their own stories about how events unfolded. Rather than store information in the order it was presented, jurors typically use that information (correctly or incorrectly) to construct a kind of plot of the crime. Given these findings, lawyers would be well advised to abandon strategies based on witness order (e.g., save the strongest witnesses for last) in favor of introducing witnesses and evidence in the order that reflects the story the lawyer wants the jury to believe.