American Court System

American Court System

Applied to Twelve Angry

Men

JuryO A group of persons sworn to render a

verdict or true answer on a question or questions officially submitted to them.

JuryO Should be impartial O After hearing the evidence and often jury

instructions from the judge, the group retires for deliberation, to consider a verdict.O Law. the finding or answer of a jury given to

the court concerning a matter submitted to their judgment.

O Usually made up of 12 individuals for a criminal caseO Before 1975 women had the ability to be

exempt from being on a jury.

Jury BoxO an enclosure where the jury sit in co

urt

Jury RoomO a private room, adjacent to a

courtroom, where a trial jury discusses a case and reaches its verdict.

Murder in the First Degree

O The aggravating factors of first degree murder are:O a specific intent to killO premeditationO deliberation.

O In addition, murder committed by acts such as strangulation, poisoning, or lying in wait are also treated as first degree murder

O punished by death or life imprisonment ... except that any person ... under 17 years of age at the time of the murder shall be punished with imprisonment ... for life.

Premeditated Homicide

O Premeditated murder is the crime of wrongfully causing the death of another human being (also known as murder) after rationally considering the timing or method of doing so, in order to either increase the likelihood of success, or to evade detection or apprehension

Criminal CourtO a court of law in which criminal cases

are tried and determined.

DutyO something that one is expected or

required to do by moral or legal obligation.

Reasonable DoubtO uncertainty as to a criminal

defendant's guilt; the level of certainty a juror must have to find a defendant guilty of a crime

O Unanimous: characterized by or showing complete agreement

O Deliberate: carefully weighed or considered; studied; intentional

O Testimony: Law. the statement or declaration of a witness under oath or affirmation, usually in court

ForemanO the member of a jury selected to

preside over and speak for all the jurors on the panel.

O Prosecution: the institution and carrying on of legal proceedings against a person.

O Defendant: Law. a person, company, etc., against whom a claim or charge is brought in a court (opposed to plaintiff ).

Fifth Amendment

An amendment to the U.S. constitution, ratified in 1791 as part of the Bill of Rights, providing chiefly that no person be required to testify against himself or herself in a criminal case and that no person be subjected to a second trial for an offense for which he or she has been duly tried previously.

Cross ExaminationO Law. to examine (a witness called by

the opposing side), as for the purpose of discrediting the witness's testimony.

Hung JuryO A jury that cannot agree on a verdict.

O Results in a mistrialO The case may be retired

Death Penalty O Capital punishment

O punishment by death for a crime; death penalty.