Law Commons^™

The Jury System And Special Verdicts., Judge Ernest Guinn

St. Mary's Law Journal

A jury is entitled to know what it is doing by its verdict. As such, it is satisfying in charging a jury to explain fully and completely the legal principles involved in a case, the rights and duties of the parties, and the facts that the jury must deduct from the evidence presented to reach a verdict. Those who hold contrary views do not trust jurors, and in fact, do not trust the jury system. The views of professors, lawyers, and judges on this question and the reasoning for and against a full disclosure of the case to a jury …