Criminal
Dec. 19, 2009
Trials, the Means to a Just End
Los Angeles County Public Defender Michael P. Judge explains why criminal cases need jury trials and unanimous verdicts.
By Michael P. Judge
The wrongheaded idea that we should abolish juries in criminal cases where the punishment does not exceed six months is prompted by two unmeritorious concerns. One is that because the court system is underfunded, certain efficiencies (i.e. elimination of due process) must be imposed. The other is that some do not trust the people in the community, they have lost touch or never established an effective bond with the community. Therefore, they feel uncom...For only $95 a month (the price of 2 article purchases)
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