FSEM1020-08.First Year Seminar: Juries.F15.Hanson,Leondra

Over the past few decades, juries and individual jurors have been increasingly criticized by media and citizens in response to controversial, and sometimes seemingly unbelievable, verdicts. Based on perceived injustice and error, observers have called into question the fairness and adequacy of the jury system in civil and criminal cases. In this writing-intensive seminar we will look at the work of juries generally and peel back the headlines in some of the most condemned decisions of the past few decades to explore whether those juries got it wrong and, if so, why that happened. We will look at the system from a variety of vantage points and disciplines to consider what leads juries to the decisions they make. Students will choose a case/verdict or a related issue to research in depth and will present their work in a paper and presentation to the class. Because this is a writing-intensive FYSem, you do not need to register for English 1110