Jurors on Trial by Harold M. Hoffman and Joseph Brodley

Abstract

Introduction–In 1937 Osborn, a keen observer of many jury trials, commented: "Someone has said that the invention of the jury system is one of the 'splendid achievements of civilization,' but its splendor is now and then somewhat dimmed when some juryman frankly tells just what occurred in some jury-room. If for a term of court or two a complete transcript of all the comments, criticisms, and reasons of jurors in juryrooms could be made and furnished to the newspapers it would no doubt furnish some suggestions looking toward improvement. If this exposure did not bring about the total abolition of the jury system, it would perhaps tend to bring about improvement in some of the methods of selecting jurors, or perhaps a selection of the kind of cases to be submitted to juries."