Week 6:
In this class we looked at the film Twelve Angry Men.
You can get one view of this film from the following site:
Questions and Issues:
How compelling was the evidence?
i. the testimony of elderly man
ii. the testimony of the woman who lived across the "el" tracks
iii. the testimony of neighbors who lived across the hall
iv. the evidence adduced concerning the type of knife used in the crime
v. the site and angle of the knife wound
Ultimately, what conclusions does the jury come to in regard to each of the above items?
What are the flaws found by the jury with the testimony given by the old man, the woman across the 'el' tracks and the neighbors?
Did the defense counselor do an excellent job in defending the accused? If not, what accounts for his less than valiant defense?
Why does juror number 8, in the first vote, refuse to vote with the majority and convict the accused. What are the sentiments of the other jurors at that time?
How is the standard of proof in a criminal case different from that in a civil case? What is the difference between the phrases "beyond a reasonable doubt" and "preponderance of evidence"?
When will evidence of prior convictions be admitted in a court of law in the United States?
Students should be familiar with the historical origins of the jury system including the following concepts, cases, etc.
a. Origins connected with the Domesday Book
b. Jury of Presentment
c. Bushell's Case, 1670
d. 6th and 7th Amendments to the Constitution of the United States
e. Sections 16 and 22 of the Constitution of the State of Florida
What is voir dire? How may this process be abused?
What is the effect upon the American legal system of jury trials?
