Trial by Jury

A jury is a selected group of laymen that hears the ….. in ….. and decides the facts. A courtroom trial in which a..... decides the facts is called a ….. by jury.

Before each ….. term, a jury commissioner or another public ….. prepares a panel, or large initial ….. of qualified jurors. For each trial, ….. are selected by lot from this …... Before the trial begins, the jurors ….. to decide the facts fairly. They hear the ….. given by witnesses for both sides, including …... Then ….. for each side sum up, or summarize the case, and the ….. explains the applicable law in his instructions to the jury.

In ….. for financial damages, the jury must decide who is at..... and must determine the amount of ….. to be paid. In criminal cases, the jury must decide whether or not the …… is guilty "beyond a reasonable doubt", and then either return a verdict of guilty, or ….. the defendant by a verdict of not guilty. If the verdict is ….. the judge imposes the ….., or punishment, within limits that have been fixed by the …...

9. Enact a role play "Trying a criminal case". You are the jury and must decide whether to acquit the accused or sentence them to a term of imprison­ment (minimum 3 months/maximum life). Or could you think of a more appro­priate punishment?

Case 1. A driver while speeding hit a cyclist off her bike. She was badly injured and confined to a wheelchair for the rest of her life. The driver didn't stop so he's charged with hit and run.

Case 2. The accused is a doctor who gave an overdose to an 87-year-old woman. She had a terminal illness, was in constant pain and had asked for the overdose. Her family are accusing the doctor of murder.

Case 3. A. and B. mug Mr X., take his money and leave him for dead. B. later returns alone and pushes the body in the riv­er. An autopsy reveals that the man was still just alive when pushed in the water and subsequently drowned.