陪审团审理微观制衡机制考察——一个以美国为对象的分析实证视角

“陪审团决定事实问题、法官决定法律问题”的常识观点虽揭示出陪审团审理的基本框架,却过于简单,且与实际不完全相符。陪审团审理还存在一种微观的制衡机制,即法官可以通过运用证据规则、对陪审团作出指示、指定裁决形式,以及批准作为法律事项的判决的动议和重新审理动议等方式制约陪审团的事实认定;陪审团则可以在定罪、量刑和裁定民事赔偿额度等方面影响法官对法律问题的决定。这种微观制衡机制既保障了陪审团审理中的事实认定,又维护了法律适用的正当性。

A Microcosmic Analysis of the Mechanism of Check and Balance in the Jury Trail: An Analytic and Positive Approach on the USA Experience

In the common law system, the jury determines the facts, and the judge determines the legal problems. But under this basic structure, the judge can restrict the jury' s determination of the facts by means of exerting evidence law, instructing the jury, appointing the verdict form, and approving the motion of judgment as a matter of law and new trial motion. Oppositely, the jury can influence the judge' s determination of legal matter by way of convicting, pronouncing the sentence , and awarding the damages. This offers the optimal blend between the jury' s ability to discern the facts and the judge' s expertise in applying the law.