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Full-Text Articles in Law
Ghana’S Jury System On Trial, Dennis D. Adjei
Ghana’S Jury System On Trial, Dennis D. Adjei
Duke Law Master of Judicial Studies Theses
Civil cases in Ghana are tried by the bench. Criminal cases are also handled by bench trials, except for certain indictable offenses, which may be tried by a judge or jury. Not all serious offenses are tried by jury. And a trend is developing away from jury to bench trials. For example, treason is punishable by death, but the case is determined in a bench trial by three High Court Judges. Robbery, which had been an indictable offense, is now tried by either jury or bench trial at the discretion of the Attorney-General; and prosecutors consistently have been opting for …
Juries, Lay Judges, And Trials, Toby S. Goldbach, Valerie P. Hans
Juries, Lay Judges, And Trials, Toby S. Goldbach, Valerie P. Hans
All Faculty Publications
“Juries, Lay Judges, and Trials” describes the widespread practice of including ordinary citizens as legal decision makers in the criminal trial. In some countries, lay persons serve as jurors and determine the guilt and occasionally the punishment of the accused. In others, citizens decide cases together with professional judges in mixed decision-making bodies. What is more, a number of countries have introduced or reintroduced systems employing juries or lay judges, often as part of comprehensive reform in emerging democracies. Becoming familiar with the job of the juror or lay citizen in a criminal trial is thus essential for understanding contemporary …