World Jury Systems

This book examines the jury systems in multiple countries, highlighting their historical development and contemporary significance. World Jury Systems is essential for understanding democratic legal frameworks.

This comprehensive volume explores the jury systems across various countries, including Australia, England, Canada, New Zealand, the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, Scotland, and the United States. It delves into both civil and criminal juries, highlighting the historical significance of the jury system that originated in England. This system is regarded as a cornerstone in the evolution of modern procedural justice and has been regarded as a 'right of Englishmen' that was adopted by its colonies worldwide. While the civil jury has seen a decline in usage, the criminal jury remains a vital component in the justice systems of over fifty nations and territories today.

World Jury Systems offers in-depth analyses from leading scholars who possess extensive knowledge of the jury systems they discuss. The book includes an introductory chapter that outlines the historical development of the jury and establishes a conceptual framework for comparing contemporary jury systems. Additionally, it features a chapter on the recently revived criminal jury systems in Spain and Russia, as well as discussions on the potential resurgence of the jury system in Japan.

The final chapter surveys forty-six other modern jury systems from regions such as Africa, Asia, the Mediterranean, the South Pacific, South America, the Caribbean, and Europe. This volume serves as an invaluable resource for scholars and students of comparative law, practitioners, and policymakers, providing crucial insights into how various countries confront significant issues like the balance between free press and fair trial, pretrial publicity, and jury competence.