Question 1

Unanimity is required by _____ of the states in capital murder trials.

Accepted Answer

Unanimity is required by all of the states in capital murder trials.

Question 2

In the case of a split jury, where about half favor "guilty" and the other half favor "not guilty" on the initial vote, it is more likely that the final verdict will be _____. This tendency is also referred to as the _____ bias.

Accepted Answer

The leniency bias suggests that in cases of a split jury, it is more likely for the final verdict to be "not guilty" as jurors may lean towards a more lenient outcome when consensus is hard to reach.

Question 3

All of the following statements are true about hung jury, EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

Hung juries are more likely when the law is perceived as complex or unfair, not less likely. This complexity or perceived unfairness can lead to disagreement among jurors, increasing the chances of a hung jury.

Question 4

When jurors change their minds because they are persuaded by the compelling arguments of other jurors, this phenomenon is also referred to as:

Accepted Answer

Informational influence occurs when individuals change their opinions or behaviors based on the information or arguments presented by others, particularly in situations where the information is perceived as a means to achieve correct or appropriate outcomes. In the context of jurors changing their minds due to compelling arguments from their peers, this reflects informational influence, as they are persuaded by the content and logic of the arguments rather than social pressure or a desire to conform.

Question 5

Differences in opinion among jury members often occur. At this point, various coalitions may develop, and this may even lead to attacks against each other. A common term for this phase of the deliberation process is:

Accepted Answer

During the deliberation process, differences in opinion among jury members can lead to the development of various coalitions and even attacks against each other. This phase is commonly referred to as "open conflict." It is characterized by overt disagreements and confrontations as members argue their differing viewpoints.

Question 6

Members of a jury that appear to have a great deal of influence on the deliberation process are referred to as _____ jurors.

Accepted Answer

Members of a jury who appear to have a great deal of influence on the deliberation process are referred to as strong jurors. This term reflects their ability to sway the opinions and decisions of other jurors through their arguments, knowledge, or personality.

Question 7

According to the text, _____ of jury trials in the United States result in a hung jury.

Accepted Answer

Less than 10% of jury trials in the United States result in a hung jury, indicating that the vast majority of jury trials reach a conclusive verdict.

Question 8

Juries may base their verdicts on reasoning that ignores or goes beyond the law. This phenomenon is referred to as:

Accepted Answer

Jury nullification occurs when jurors acquit a defendant, even if they believe the defendant is guilty, based on their disagreement with the law or its application. This means they can ignore the law as it is written and base their verdict on their own sense of justice or fairness.

Question 9

Expert witnesses are individuals that present testimony in court. All of the following is true about expert witnesses, EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

Expert witnesses typically receive compensation for their time and expertise. They are not generally expected to provide their services for free (pro bono).

Question 10

Some legal scholars have been advocating for a system of professional jurors who can understand the complex evidence presented in court and know the law related to each case. However, there are some serious problems with this potential system. Which one of the following is NOT among these problems?

Accepted Answer

The concern about what course of studies professional jurors should complete is not mentioned as a problem with the system of professional jurors. The other options (B, C, D) outline potential issues related to costs, relationships affecting impartiality, and the risk of becoming jaded, which are recognized concerns.

Question 11

When jurors change their votes under pressure from other jurors, even though they did not change their minds, this phenomenon is referred to as:

Accepted Answer

This phenomenon is referred to as normative influence, which occurs when individuals conform to the expectations of others to gain social approval or avoid social disapproval, even if their own opinions or beliefs do not change.

Question 12

_____ occurs when group pressure results in holdout jurors changing their votes, even if their opinions of the case did not change.

Accepted Answer

Normative influence occurs when individuals conform to the expectations of a group to gain acceptance or avoid disapproval, which can lead to jurors changing their votes due to group pressure, even if their personal opinions remain unchanged.

Question 13

During the jury deliberation process, two distinct styles are evident. Some juries adopt a(n) _____ style, while other juries choose a(n) _____ style.

Accepted Answer

Juries can adopt a verdict-driven style, where they vote on a verdict early and organize their discussion around it, or an evidence-driven style, where they examine the evidence in detail before moving towards a verdict.

Question 14

As noted in the text, almost three quarters of the jury deliberation time is devoted to the _____, and about 20% of the time is dedicated to discussing the _____.

Accepted Answer

The correct answer is that almost three quarters of the jury deliberation time is devoted to discussions of evidence, and about 20% of the time is dedicated to discussing the law and judges' instructions.

Question 15

According to the text, juries that require unanimity to reach a decision, deliberate _____, and are also more likely to _____ than majority-rule juries.

Accepted Answer

Juries that require unanimity tend to deliberate longer because all members must agree on the verdict, and they are more likely to hang, meaning they cannot reach a unanimous decision.

Question 16

It is _____ that jurors would be able to ignore past convictions if instructed to do so, especially if these convictions were for _____.

Accepted Answer

Jurors may find it difficult to disregard a defendant's past convictions, especially if those convictions are similar to the crime currently being tried. This similarity can bias their judgment, making it unlikely they can ignore the past convictions as instructed.

Question 17

When an expert witness is presenting a testimony that is _____, the strength of expert's credentials is _____.

Accepted Answer

When an expert witness presents a very complex testimony, the strength of the expert's credentials becomes especially important to establish credibility and help the jury or judge understand the complex information being presented.

Question 18

It turns out that the jury nullification option is a double-edged sword. Studies have showed that the nullification instructions allow juries to treat _____ offenders more leniently and _____ offenders more harshly.

Accepted Answer

Jury nullification allows juries to use their discretion, often leading them to be more lenient towards sympathetic offenders and harsher towards unsympathetic ones.

Question 19

The foreperson of a jury is regarded as its leader. However, a foreperson may or may not exert disproportionate influence on a verdict. In fact, he or she may become more focused on the _____ and on acting as a(n)_____.

Accepted Answer

The foreperson of a jury often takes on the role of managing procedural issues and acts as a moderator to facilitate discussion and ensure that the jury's deliberations proceed in an orderly and fair manner.

Question 20

Juries are unusual groups of people performing unusual tasks. Which of the following statements is INCORRECT about juries?

Accepted Answer

Jurors do not always have to leave their house and live in a hotel for the duration of the trial. This situation, known as sequestration, happens only in certain high-profile cases to avoid exposure to outside influences. In most trials, jurors go home at the end of the day.

Quiz 12: Juries and Judges As Decision Makers

Unanimity is required by _____ of the states in capital murder trials.

In the case of a split jury, where about half favor "guilty" and the other half favor "not guilty" on the initial vote, it is more likely that the final verdict will be _. This tendency is also referred to as the _ bias.

All of the following statements are true about hung jury, EXCEPT:

When jurors change their minds because they are persuaded by the compelling arguments of other jurors, this phenomenon is also referred to as:

Differences in opinion among jury members often occur. At this point, various coalitions may develop, and this may even lead to attacks against each other. A common term for this phase of the deliberation process is:

Members of a jury that appear to have a great deal of influence on the deliberation process are referred to as _____ jurors.

According to the text, _____ of jury trials in the United States result in a hung jury.

Juries may base their verdicts on reasoning that ignores or goes beyond the law. This phenomenon is referred to as:

Expert witnesses are individuals that present testimony in court. All of the following is true about expert witnesses, EXCEPT:

Some legal scholars have been advocating for a system of professional jurors who can understand the complex evidence presented in court and know the law related to each case. However, there are some serious problems with this potential system. Which one of the following is NOT among these problems?

When jurors change their votes under pressure from other jurors, even though they did not change their minds, this phenomenon is referred to as:

_____ occurs when group pressure results in holdout jurors changing their votes, even if their opinions of the case did not change.

During the jury deliberation process, two distinct styles are evident. Some juries adopt a(n) _ style, while other juries choose a(n) _ style.

As noted in the text, almost three quarters of the jury deliberation time is devoted to the _, and about 20% of the time is dedicated to discussing the _.

According to the text, juries that require unanimity to reach a decision, deliberate _, and are also more likely to _ than majority-rule juries.

It is _ that jurors would be able to ignore past convictions if instructed to do so, especially if these convictions were for _.

When an expert witness is presenting a testimony that is _, the strength of expert's credentials is _.

It turns out that the jury nullification option is a double-edged sword. Studies have showed that the nullification instructions allow juries to treat _ offenders more leniently and _ offenders more harshly.

The foreperson of a jury is regarded as its leader. However, a foreperson may or may not exert disproportionate influence on a verdict. In fact, he or she may become more focused on the _ and on acting as a(n) _.

Juries are unusual groups of people performing unusual tasks. Which of the following statements is INCORRECT about juries?

Quiz 12: Juries and Judges As Decision Makers

Unanimity is required by _____ of the states in capital murder trials.

In the case of a split jury, where about half favor "guilty" and the other half favor "not guilty" on the initial vote, it is more likely that the final verdict will be _____. This tendency is also referred to as the _____ bias.

All of the following statements are true about hung jury, EXCEPT:

When jurors change their minds because they are persuaded by the compelling arguments of other jurors, this phenomenon is also referred to as:

Differences in opinion among jury members often occur. At this point, various coalitions may develop, and this may even lead to attacks against each other. A common term for this phase of the deliberation process is:

Members of a jury that appear to have a great deal of influence on the deliberation process are referred to as _____ jurors.

According to the text, _____ of jury trials in the United States result in a hung jury.

Juries may base their verdicts on reasoning that ignores or goes beyond the law. This phenomenon is referred to as:

Expert witnesses are individuals that present testimony in court. All of the following is true about expert witnesses, EXCEPT:

Some legal scholars have been advocating for a system of professional jurors who can understand the complex evidence presented in court and know the law related to each case. However, there are some serious problems with this potential system. Which one of the following is NOT among these problems?

When jurors change their votes under pressure from other jurors, even though they did not change their minds, this phenomenon is referred to as:

_____ occurs when group pressure results in holdout jurors changing their votes, even if their opinions of the case did not change.

During the jury deliberation process, two distinct styles are evident. Some juries adopt a(n) _____ style, while other juries choose a(n) _____ style.

As noted in the text, almost three quarters of the jury deliberation time is devoted to the _____, and about 20% of the time is dedicated to discussing the _____.

According to the text, juries that require unanimity to reach a decision, deliberate _____, and are also more likely to _____ than majority-rule juries.

It is _____ that jurors would be able to ignore past convictions if instructed to do so, especially if these convictions were for _____.

When an expert witness is presenting a testimony that is _____, the strength of expert's credentials is _____.

It turns out that the jury nullification option is a double-edged sword. Studies have showed that the nullification instructions allow juries to treat _____ offenders more leniently and _____ offenders more harshly.

The foreperson of a jury is regarded as its leader. However, a foreperson may or may not exert disproportionate influence on a verdict. In fact, he or she may become more focused on the _____ and on acting as a(n) _____.

Juries are unusual groups of people performing unusual tasks. Which of the following statements is INCORRECT about juries?

In the case of a split jury, where about half favor "guilty" and the other half favor "not guilty" on the initial vote, it is more likely that the final verdict will be _. This tendency is also referred to as the _ bias.

During the jury deliberation process, two distinct styles are evident. Some juries adopt a(n) _ style, while other juries choose a(n) _ style.

As noted in the text, almost three quarters of the jury deliberation time is devoted to the _, and about 20% of the time is dedicated to discussing the _.

According to the text, juries that require unanimity to reach a decision, deliberate _, and are also more likely to _ than majority-rule juries.

It is _ that jurors would be able to ignore past convictions if instructed to do so, especially if these convictions were for _.

When an expert witness is presenting a testimony that is _, the strength of expert's credentials is _.

It turns out that the jury nullification option is a double-edged sword. Studies have showed that the nullification instructions allow juries to treat _ offenders more leniently and _ offenders more harshly.

The foreperson of a jury is regarded as its leader. However, a foreperson may or may not exert disproportionate influence on a verdict. In fact, he or she may become more focused on the _ and on acting as a(n) _.