Psychology And The Law: Chapter 7

Front 1

jury act

Back 1

provincial and territorial legislation that outlines the eligibility criteria for jury service and how prospective jurors must be selected

Front 2

jury summons

Back 2

a court order that states a time and place to go for jury duty

Front 3

sequestered

Back 3

when jurors are isolated from others, except other jurors, until a verdict is reached

Front 4

scientific jury selection

Back 4

rejecting prospective jurors who would be unsympathetic to one's case and accepting those who would be sympathetic based on predetermined characteristics

Front 5

broad-based approach

Back 5

approach to sscientific jury selection that starts with the presumption that there are certain traits or attitudes that people have that make them more likely to be pro-prosecution versus pro-defence

Front 6

voir dire

Back 6

the question period when jurors are selected to serve on the jury

Front 7

case-specific approach

Back 7

approach to scientific jury selection that starts with the issues and facts of the case. A specific questionnaire then is developed assessing a number of characteristics that may influence the verdict

Front 8

representativeness

Back 8

a jury composition represents the community where the crime occurred

Front 9

impartiality

Back 9

a characteristic of jurors who are unbiased

Front 10

change of venue

Back 10

moving a trial to a community other than the one in which it occurred

Front 11

adjournment

Back 11

delaying the trial until some time in the future

Front 12

challenge for the cause

Back 12

an option to reject biased jurors

Front 13

jury nullification

Back 13

occurs when a jury ignores the law and the evidence, rendering a veridct based on some other criteria

Front 14

deliberation

Back 14

when jury members discuss the evidence privately among themselves to reach a verdict that is then provided to the court

Front 15

polarization

Back 15

when individuals tend to become more extreme in their initial position following a group discussion

Front 16

leniency bias

Back 16

when jurors move toward greater leniency during deliberations

Front 17

hung jury

Back 17

a jury that cannot reach a unanimous verdict

Front 18

racial bias

Back 18

the disparate treatment of racial out-groups

Front 19

black sheep effect

Back 19

when evidence is strong, similarity between defendant and jury leads to punitiveness