Nov 26, 2004 01:59
I know it sucks ....but look at the time ...you can't blame me.
Jury System Essay
Over the years Canada’s jury system has served to be a great example of democracy in action. However it would do Canada some good if we were to just abolish the jury system altogether. The jury system, though it has its good sides, isn’t really necessary. It creates a lot of redundant problems. Trials would be tried quicker and even simpler of the jury system did not exist. Firstly, jurors lack legal knowledge that can help them decide the verdict of the accused. Secondly, being reported to do jury duty causes major inconveince in the lives of the jurors. Lastly, it’d be unfair seeing that it is possible for jurors to bring their prejudices into the court.
Putting the fate of someone’s life in the hands of someone who does not know or lacks legal knowledge isn’t reasonable. There could be types of laws and legislations that the jurors do not know and are not familiar with. This doesn’t make the trial fair and makes the final verdict based off of their option only. Jurors might not know the difference between manslaughter, and murder. This could be a problem because the accused could be wrongly convicted because the decision was based off of only what the jurors knew. This is one reason why the jury system should be abolished.
Basically when you’re called to jury duty, and you become one of the 12 people selected, you’re expected to “drop everything”. Being called to do jury duty can cause many inconvence to a person’s life. For instance, when you get called to jury duty, you cannot attend work because of your responsibilities as a citizen. Some people’s jobs do not pay them for their time of absence away from work, despite the purpose. How is a person supposed to support themselves or their family if they are not getting paid? The little amount that the government gives them is not enough. Even though the government pays the jurors for their time, they still have to find their own source of transportation. If the jury gets sequestered they cannot be in contact with anyone except the other jurors. What if a mother has to tend to her baby? Or cannot find a baby sitter? All these reasons above show ways that the jury system can cause inconvenience to the juror’s lives, which is yet another reason why the jury system should be abolished.
All around Canada, as well as the world, there are many prejudice people. The reason why the jury system should not take place anymore is because any juror can bring any type of prejudice they have into the courtroom. For example, say a juror doesn’t like Muslims, and a Muslim man was on trial for robbery. The crown lawyer has no physical evidence only a witness that claims to have seen the man and 2 people defending the accuser’s alibi. The juror can merely take whatever prejudice they have and turn it into a personal situation by without difficulty saying they find the person guilty. This once again serves an unfair trial. Then there is the juror that only wants to get the case over with, taking it out on the accused and just rushing a verdict, not taking time to think out all the evidence and testimonies. There are many ways a jury member can bring their own prejudice into a courtroom; those above are only a few of the many.
So although it has served us well in the past, it is time for Canada to realize that courtrooms can do without the jury system. It should be abolished because of all the problems it causes. It doesn’t help the case at all when the jurors lack legal knowledge oppose to the lawyers and the judge. Secondly it causes an inconvence to the person who gets called to attend jury duty. It interferes with their job, family and other personal responsibilities. Finally, it allows jurors to bring their own prejudice into the courtroom and use it towards making the verdict. All of these reasons, plus many more prove that the jury system is nothing but a hassle. It can be done without 12 or less people to decide the fate of someone’s life. So abolishing the jury system is what needs to be done, considering all the reasons listed above.
I need to fix the second paragraph at school ....Good Night