Why Juries Matter

The jury system is often called the heartbeat of democracy—a group of citizens empowered to judge their peers. But who gets selected? Whose voices are heard? What does it mean to have “an impartial jury of your peers”?

Key Topics

• Selection bias: How socioeconomic status, race, and location affect juror pools

• Jury nullification: When jurors refuse to apply the law

• Group dynamics: Peer pressure, persuasion, and moral judgment in the jury room

• Secrecy and transparency: The limits of juror accountability

Thought Questions

• Can a jury be fair when many citizens are excluded?

• Is jury nullification a threat—or a democratic safeguard?