The children could hear the terrifying screams from their siblings in the bathroom. One by one all five entered the bathroom where their mother waited for them, unfortunately not a single one would make it out alive. Within six months of this heinous crime Andrea Yates the mother of these five children was put on trial. The evidence presented by both sides in the courtroom, would have long lasting effects on everyone involved in the case, as well as the millions of Americans that were following the trial. Visual testimony in any trial, especially a murder trial can have many effects on the outcome of a trial. Both prosecutors, and defense attorneys have a huge burden to fulfill in order
In the American Judicial System today, there is a choice between trial by jury or bench trial. Trial by jury is used today by selecting jurors from pools of people who are eligible, adult American citizens. Trial by jury is often controversial because of how the jurors are not professionals whereas in a bench trial, a judge is highly educated in law (Doc B). Another reason citizens question juries is that they have bias from personal experience or the media. The defendant and the prosecution criticize the jury system because the actual jurors may not understand the situation from any point of view because they come from different lifestyles (Doc E). The American jury system is not a good idea anymore because juries are not experts in law, they have bias, and are not “a jury of peers”.
High profile court cases have been getting increasingly popular as time goes on. Court cases like the Casey Anthony and Scott Peterson trials are media dynamite. Although the media is legally allowed to be a part of these court proceedings, they still cause drama and stipulations that many feel would not be a factor if their presence were withdrawn. Notoriety, or being famous for bad deeds, is a characteristic engulfing many of Hollywood’s elite personnel; for this reason, many high profile cases have become even more of a media magnet. Many may believe that notoriety is a determining factor in high profile cases, but all legal proceedings are conducted in the same manner whether heavily documented in the
This may cause the jury to be indecisive between what the actual case and what the media portrays it to be. The amount of media released for cases creates a negative impact within the courts and makes it difficult for a fair trial. When juries are uncertain about a case or a suspect, they result to social media platforms and news coverage that will provide them with more information and depth into the case. ‘’But if the case unfolds in the media, by the time a case gets to court, the supposedly impartial jury (or even the judge) may have already heard information and allegations (not admissible by court standards) that have caused them to seriously prejudice the parties’’. (Nedim, 2014). Another example of how media can affect the criminal justice system within the courts is when divorce courts are dealt with. Because social media is a popular way for people to communicate with each other. Many spouses would use photos, screen shots, texts, and call logs to use against each other for evidence. When social media is presented in courts, it is very important that one is not guilty of negative or threatening comments and can be used against them. Furthermore, social media within the courts could also be looked on in a positive way. It could help with more witnesses and evidence and to raise
The jury system originated in England hundreds of years ago. The colonists brought the jury system from England to the United States. In 1733, John Zenger, a printer, printed a newspaper critical for the British Government. His attorney convinced the jury to be in favor for Zenger because his criticisms were true. After this trial, it gave ordinary citizens the freedom of speech and the power to go against the king. The Founding Fathers wanted the people of the United States to be in a democracy or self-government and established the jury system into the constitution. It is expensive and is a long process to start a jury trial. Also, jurors are not as professional as judges and can not determine a fair verdict. The Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) effect might also affect the verdict of the jury. The American jury system should not be used because of it not being cost-effective, the lack of experience of the jury, which leads to justice not being served, and the CSI effect impacting the
A system of rules that a particular country or community recognizes as regulating the actions of its members and may enforce by the imposition of penalties, this is the definition of law. Although the definition of law is evident and perceptible,the portrayal and act of law varies. Throughout the justice system there are many inconsistencies such as the type of law, there is common,criminal,civil, and administrative. Throughout these systems of law there are also criminal proceedings. In these criminal proceedings, some will find that the verdict is just. While others may disagree. In legal history there are many cases where an unjust verdict is apparent. One case that has been infamously known to have an incorrect verdict is the case of The people V.S Oj Simpson. This criminal trial is one of the
In Zachary Shemtob and David Lats essay “Executions Should Be Televised”, it is talking about allowing executions to be made for the public to see. Nowadays these executions are only made for some specifics to watch. One of the few people who can watch are the press. Many have strong opinions on this topic because of safety concerns and reasons. Although the authors are using the Rogerian method to persuade you and help you understand their point of view. Shemtob and Lat’s essay on executions being televised was very persuading and effective based on their great use of Rogerian writing style.
Imagine how a court would be run if it was dysfunctional. With many pieces of evidence to solve one problem that can lead to months after months, just to say those words, “guilty or not guilty.” There was one case that caught everybody's attention and became very famous. In 1994, O.J Simpson was accused for brutally murdering his ex-wife Nicole Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman. He was sentence to court, and it took about 10 months to come to a conclusion as he walked out of court as a freedman. As it was a nation worldwide news that was all over tv. People around the country watching was shock of the decision, an debut that caught everybody eyes, that O.J Simpson should’ve been guilty. Because of how the court system work, it let a dangerous man walk out free.
Simpson’s case. According to Ogletree Jr., the media tainted the evidence of the case making some of the most relevant facts of the trial less necessary. Journalists did not care much about the criminal justice system within the country. The media gave a platform for people to give views on a case that was on trial whether the information they provided was credible or not. The involvement of the media compromised the access of witnesses, as fewer people were willing to be involved in the public scandal by testifying. Additionally, the media got into the investigation by asking questions about the events before the murder. The National Enquirer, for instance, took a different angle to investigate the case; however, by doing this, the media almost made it impossible for proper investigations to be held by the criminal justice system. Ogletree Jr. maintains that the press failed terribly by trying to assume what the lawyers or witnesses thought at different times of the trial, which was a fail (Ogletree). Consequently, there should be a level of protection from the media. Public figures should not have their cases aired or followed to prevent tampering of evidence or misconceptions. For instance, Simpson’s case was greatly influenced by the media coverage, which compromised the capabilities of the criminal justice
When someone has committed a crime, they are put on trial and they go through the motions of the judicial system. In 12 Angry Men, Reginald Rose creates a play that displays the judicial system in its truest form. It tells the story of the jury, as they have to come to a unanimous verdict of whether the defendant is guilty, innocent, guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, of murder. The main conflict that the jurors face in the play is whether to charge him as guilty or not. Through the conflict in the book, the flaws in the justice system are illustrated and reasonable doubt appears. They are most apparent through the first vote, the change of heart in the seventh juror and the final verdict.
Media is focused on people marginalized in society due to race, ethnicity and sexuality. It is based on well-known stereotypes and reinforces them. Moral panic sends society into mass hysteria over an issue or an event that occurs.
You 're accused of a crime you know you didn 't commit, how would you feel if when you went to court you didn 't get to have a jury to have a better chance of the verdict siding with you, and not get accused of a crime. The judge immediately decides your guilty and you 're put on probation , faced with charges you don 't have the money to pay ,or even get sent to jail. “ The jury system arose in England hundreds of years ago. If there was a crime committed in the community, the accused was brought to a jury. The judge presided over the trial and served as a legal expert… The jury heard the events and accused guilty or not-guilty (Is The American Jury System Still A Good Idea?).” Jury trials should remain an option because because we as Americans have the right of the seventh , jurors are only told 100 percent of proven information, and the jurors are not influenced by media, people, or unproven information to make a decision and the
The O.J. Simpson trial was a trial that was seen across the nation. Therefore, everyone was watching this trial to see what would happen and as we know evidence plays a major part in getting the correct verdict in a trial. Now some of the physical evidence that was found was some hair evidence on a cap as well as on Ron Goldman shirts. There were some cotton fibers consistent with the carpet in the Bronco that O.J. was riding in on a glove at his Rockingham residence as well as at the Bundy residence. Furthermore, there was blood dropped by the killer at Bundy and it was noted that it was the same type as Simpson and he had fresh cuts on his left hand a day after the murder. There is also the fact that there was blood found in the Bronco, foyer,
This paper examines the media and its effect on crime and the criminal justice system. The media 's negative influence often makes an impact in the justice system. To see the type of influence the media has on the justice system, let 's examine different cases. Media involvement can change the outcome of a case. The power of the media in the system justice is mostly negative. Before the media becomes involved with a case, the media needs to determine if the case will be worth their time. The negative influence of media comes in the form of their ability to convict a person using their influence as a media outlet. The media will tend to exaggerate a case to make the story more compelling and get people 's attention. That type of system of
The 1963 March on Washington is arguably the most notable event of the cutting edge civil rights movement. More than 250,000 people from across America came together in Washington D.C. in a peaceful demonstration with the hope of bringing an end to racial segregation within the educational system, as well as help to create job equality as well as the freedom of African-Americans as a whole. The march played a pivotal role in the growing fight for civil rights, no more so than that of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. It was a discourse of hope and determination, and it typified the message the marchers declared of racial equality and a conviction that Black and White Americans could live respectively in peace.