Juries capture the imaginations of film-makers and philosophers alike. What happens when prejudice creeps in? Can you guarantee fairness? What if a juror goes rogue?
In this week’s NLJ, Michael Zander KC reflects on a report that calls for the abolition of majority jury verdicts.
The report was published in May by APPEAL, the working name of the Centre for Criminal Appeals. Zander writes: ‘Their challenging thesis regarding the history is that the introduction of majority verdicts by Roy Jenkins in the Criminal Justice Act 1967 was classist and racist.’
In this fascinating article, Zander, emeritus professor, LSE, looks at the history and cultural landscape informing Jenkins’ introduction of majority verdicts. He considers whether he agrees or disagrees with the APPEAL report. Should there be a return to jury unanimity? Read Professor Zander’s verdict.
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