Need help with info on the Jury System please :(

[hello_kitty]

I need to answer these questions with evidence to back them up and am having a lot of trouble! so any help would be appreciated guys!

1) Outline the difficulties faced by the jury in performing their dutires
Would this be that juries may be influenced by emotional bias or rhetoric by the presentation of the lawyer, which may appeal to members of the jury, where their influence may be unduly reflected in the decision reached by the Jury

1)Does the selection process guarantee trial by one's peers? Explain

2) Jury decisions are conducted in secrecy. Present for and against arguments
I have said so far
FOR   The members of the Jury do not have to give reasons, hence the secrecy – No one will be in the room, therefore won’t be influenced by other people

AGAINST   Having no reasons for the decision doesn’t support that the legal system should be transparent

3) How can the community be assured that the jury takes their responsibility seriously?

4) What impact could media reporting have on the operation of the jury system?

5) Discuss three criticisms of trial by jury, in your response explain how these criticisms impact on the operation of the jury system

6) Does the jury system provide a fair trial?

7) Discuss the strengths of the Jury
Would this be that it provides an opportunity for the general community to be involved
The jury system allows ordinary people to be involved in the legal system by being part of a jury and seeing for themselves how the legal system works. This helps the general community to respect the legal system.

9) Discuss the alternatives to the jury

Thanks heaps!!!

[eeps]

1) Difficulties include; easily influenced by barristers, jury members may not understand technical terms and the rules of evidence/procedure.

2) Yes? As jury members are chosen randomly from a pool. It provides for a cross-section of the community.

4) Jury members may have pre-conceived perceptions of the accused if they hear/read media reports, and this could influence their decision in deciding whether the accused is guilty or not.

9) Alternatives include; professional forepersons, handbooks for jury members, using simple language in court, reducing the number of jury members in criminal cases.