Question 1

Romeo suggests if you know the majority opinion in a jury prior to deliberation, you know what the jury decision will be.What provides the strongest exception to his conclusion?

Accepted Answer

The leniency bias suggests that juries tend to lean towards acquittal rather than conviction, meaning that even if the majority initially favors conviction, the final decision could still be acquittal after deliberation.

Question 2

Eighteen-year-old André has been accused of statutory rape because he had sex with his 17-year-old girlfriend, who is considered a minor.When the case goes to trial, the prosecution presents evidence confirming that André broke the law; yet the jurors vote not guilty because they feel the law is outdated.The jury's action illustrates

Accepted Answer

Jury nullification occurs when a jury disregards the evidence of a case and acquits a defendant because they believe the law is unjust or outdated. In this scenario, the jury's decision to vote not guilty despite evidence of statutory rape indicates that they were engaging in jury nullification.

Question 3

Research on the leniency bias and jury deliberations suggests that which of the following juries will have the easiest time reaching a unanimous decision?

Accepted Answer

Leniency bias suggests that juries are more likely to acquit than convict, so a jury starting with a majority of "not guilty" votes will likely reach a unanimous decision more easily.

Question 4

Shaquille has been selected to be the foreperson of his jury.It is likely that Shaquille

Accepted Answer

The foreperson of a jury typically spends more time discussing procedural items, as they are responsible for organizing discussions and ensuring the jury follows proper procedures.

Question 5

Jurors' power to disregard the law when it conflicts with their personal conceptions of justice is called

Accepted Answer

Jury nullification is the power of a jury to acquit a defendant even if they believe the defendant is guilty, if they feel that the law itself is unjust or immoral. It allows jurors to use their own sense of justice and morality to interpret and apply the law, regardless of what the law dictates. Thus, they have the power to nullify or ignore the law if they feel that it conflicts with their personal beliefs.

Question 6

The stage of deliberation during which jurors set an agenda, talk in open terms, raise questions, and explore the facts is called

Accepted Answer

The stage of deliberation described in the question, where jurors set an agenda, talk openly, raise questions, and explore the facts, is typically referred to as orientation. This stage is important for jurors to get on the same page and understand the evidence presented during the trial before moving on to more specific discussions and decision-making. Open conflict and reconciliation are not typically terms used to describe this stage of deliberation, and nullification refers to a specific act of a jury choosing to disregard the law in favor of their own interpretation or beliefs.

Question 7

The members of a jury are at the point in their deliberations where they are scrutinizing the evidence, constructing stories to account for the evidence, and discussing the judge's instructions.This jury is at what stage of deliberation?

Accepted Answer

The answer of The members of a jury are at...

Question 8

One reason judges' instructions tend to have little impact on jurors is that

Accepted Answer

Jurors often find the instructions incomprehensible, leading to misunderstandings and confusion, which diminishes their impact.

Question 9

Research shows that a jury's final verdict can often be predicted accurately if which of the following is known?

Accepted Answer

Research indicates that the thoughts and opinions of individual jurors just before deliberation begins can be a strong predictor of the jury's final verdict, as these initial inclinations often influence the group's decision-making process.

Question 10

Based on the relevant research, which of the following people is most likely to be chosen as foreperson of a jury?

Accepted Answer

Ross, who is chief of surgery, is most likely to be chosen as foreperson because people in leadership or high-status positions, like a chief of surgery, are often perceived as authoritative and competent, making them more likely to be selected as a foreperson.

Question 11

The members of a jury have been deliberating for several weeks.As they begin to converge on a verdict, disagreement is smoothed over and satisfaction with the verdict is affirmed.This stage of deliberation is called the period of

Accepted Answer

The period of reconciliation refers to the stage of deliberation when disagreements are smoothed over and agreement is reached, leading to satisfaction with the verdict. This is the final stage of deliberation before the verdict is announced. Option A, retrieval, refers to the stage when jurors review evidence and discuss facts of the case. Option B, orientation, refers to the initial stage when jurors are first introduced to the case and instructed on their duties. Option D, nullification, refers to the rare situation when a jury disregards the law and renders a verdict that goes against the evidence presented.

Question 12

The "leniency bias" refers to

Accepted Answer

The "leniency bias" refers to the tendency for jury deliberation to tilt toward acquittal. This bias is often observed in cases where the evidence against the defendant is not strong or is circumstantial. Jurors may have doubts about the defendant's guilt and may err on the side of caution by voting for acquittal. However, this bias can also lead to unjust acquittals in cases where the defendant is clearly guilty, but the jury is swayed by sympathy or other factors.

Question 13

Research with mock jurors suggests that jurors comprehend judges' conventional instructions relatively well when these instructions are

Accepted Answer

Research suggests that jurors comprehend instructions better when they are rewritten in plain language. This makes the instructions easier to understand and follow, especially for jurors with limited education or language skills. Accompanying the instructions with music or presenting them through the attorneys may distract jurors from the content of the instructions, and passing them through the foreperson may result in some jurors receiving incomplete or inaccurate information.

Question 14

A juror is more likely to be chosen as foreperson if the juror is

Accepted Answer

Research suggests that jurors who sit at the head of the table, have higher occupational status, and are more vocal during deliberations are more likely to be chosen as foreperson. Therefore, all three options presented in the question are accurate.

Question 15

All of the following are true about jury forepersons except that they

Accepted Answer

Jury forepersons are often chosen quickly and informally, rather than through a careful, deliberate discussion among jury members.

Question 16

If a jury is evenly split on their initial vote, then

Accepted Answer

The answer of If a jury is evenly split on...

Question 17

If there is a majority opinion in a jury's initial vote, then

Accepted Answer

If there is a majority opinion in a jury's initial vote, it is more likely that the ultimate verdict will be consistent with the vote taken during the orientation stage, as the majority opinion will have a stronger influence on the group's decision-making process.

Question 18

Norbert is selected as the foreperson of the jury.Assuming that a typical selection process occurred, he was probably chosen

Accepted Answer

In a typical jury selection process, the foreperson is often chosen quickly, usually by a simple vote or consensus among the jurors, rather than through a lengthy debate or detailed consideration.

Question 19

As deliberation begins, nine jurors think that the defendant is guilty.At first, the three jurors who think otherwise are resistant to changing their minds, but after hearing what the others have to say, they are genuinely persuaded and decide to vote guilty.The factor most likely to have led these three jurors to change their verdict is

Accepted Answer

The three jurors were resistant to changing their minds because of their initial beliefs and opinions. However, hearing what the other jurors had to say allowed them to gain new information and perspectives that they had not previously considered. This is an example of informational influence, where an individual's beliefs or opinions are changed based on the information or knowledge provided by others.

Question 20

Research suggests that it is easier to

Accepted Answer

Research suggests that jurors are more likely to hold onto their initial beliefs and be reluctant to change them, so it is easier to create doubt in their minds than to completely change their perception to no doubt. This is known as the "belief perseverance" effect.

Quiz 12: Law