Perceptions of older adult jurors: the influence of aging stereotypes and jury laws

ABSTRACT

The present study examined younger (18–30 years, N?=?100) and older adults’ (66–89 years, N?=?100) responses to a jury duty questionnaire assessing perceptions of jury duty, their capability to serve, and the capability of older adults to serve. We also explored perceptions of the senior jury opt-out law (a law that allows those over a certain age (e.g. 65 years) to opt-out of jury duty). We assessed why participants believe this law is in place and experimentally examined if informing older adults about this law impacted their jury questionnaire responses. Results demonstrated that older adults were significantly more likely to want to serve compared to younger adults; however, younger adults provided lower capability ratings of older adult jurors compared to older adults. Younger adults’ open-ended explanations for these ratings indicated negative aging stereotypes (i.e. in part, believing that older adult jurors are less capable because of declining health and biased beliefs). Older adults also had a significantly lower rate of agreement with the senior jury opt-out law. Although informing older adults about this law did not impact their perceptions of themselves as potential jurors, it did enforce more negative attitudes towards older adult jurors as a whole.     

Are children less reliable at making visual identifications than adults? A review

The current paper reviews research that has investigated developmental differences in lineup identification. A wealth of studies have shown that children can be as accurate as adults when making a correct identification from a target present lineup (TP), however children are more inclined to choose and thereby make a false identification from a target absent (TA) lineup, as compared to adults. The literature reviewed, suggests that the disparity between children's and adult's performances on TA lineups is due to children being unable to resist the social demands to choose someone from a lineup and/or the need to give a positive response. Employing a silhouette within a lineup, that can be chosen if the target is not recognised, appears to be the most successful technique for reducing false identifications made by child witnesses. Including a silhouette as a part of a lineup, along with the lineup administrator being attired in casual clothing, rather than a uniform, are two simple measures that could make child witness identification evidence more reliable.     

A mock juror investigation of blame attribution in the punishment of hate crime perpetrators

We examined blame attribution as a moderator of perceptions of hate crimes against gay, African American, and transgender victims. Participants were 510 Texas jury panel members. Results of vignette-based crime scenarios showed that victim blame displayed significant negative, and perpetrator blame significant positive, effects on sentencing recommendations. Also as hypothesized, victim and perpetrator blame moderated the effect of support for hate crime legislation. Interaction patterns suggested that both types of blame attribution influence sentencing recommendations, but only for participants disagreeing with hate crime legislation. Three-way interactions with victim type also emerged, indicating that the effects of both types of blame attribution show particular influences when the victim is gay, as opposed to transgender or African American. Implications for attribution theory, hate crime policy, and jury selection are discussed.     

“人民的法院”与陪审制度——经典作家眼中的司法民主

司法民主的重要内容就是保障人民能够直接参与司法审判,而陪审制度正是作为由人民参与法庭审判,从而保证人民的观念与社会的良心在司法中得以实现的必要制度设计。马克思主义经典作家有关陪审制度与宪政关联的论述,阐明了陪审制度的性质、地位以及在确保司法公正、制约司法权力、保障人民自由等方面的重要作用,对我国当前的司法改革具有现实的指导意义。     

我国法院在具体案件上适用法律的请示与批复的理性思考

请示与批复的存在有其背景条件及其现实作用,但却不具有合宪性基础。要解决该法律的悖论,必须改革我国的司法制度,使我国的法律构架统一、系统。     

Educating Jurors about Forensic Evidence: Using an Expert Witness and Judicial Instructions to Mitigate the Impact of Invalid Forensic Science Testimony

Invalid expert witness testimony that overstated the precision and accuracy of forensic science procedures has been highlighted as a common factor in many wrongful conviction cases. This study assessed the ability of an opposing expert witness and judicial instructions to mitigate the impact of invalid forensic science testimony. Participants (N = 155) acted as mock jurors in a sexual assault trial that contained both invalid forensic testimony regarding hair comparison evidence, and countering testimony from either a defense expert witness or judicial instructions. Results showed that the defense expert witness was successful in educating jurors regarding limitations in the initial expert's conclusions, leading to a greater number of not-guilty verdicts. The judicial instructions were shown to have no impact on verdict decisions. These findings suggest that providing opposing expert witnesses may be an effective safeguard against invalid forensic testimony in criminal trials.     

法人越权行为效力之确定

法人越权行为效力之不同确定 ,源于程序对法人本质和法人权利能力范围的不同认识 ,深入分析法人越权行为效力之不同确定原则的利与弊 ,从而扬利抑弊 ,对于正确把握正在加快进行的民商立法方向 ,引导经济体制建设和司法实践的发展 ,都有现实的指导意义     

和谐社会建设与青少年社会服务——香港深宵外展服务对我们的启示

香港深宵外展服务是香港青少年社会工作富有特色和成功实施的一项核心服务，也是一项被认为最富挑战性的青少年社会服务工作。这项工作要求社会工作者关注的是一批在行为上有服务需要的“夜青”（指深宵活动不回家的青少年）群体，目的主要是为了预防青少年因不良环境的影响，做出违背社会规范的事情。深宵外展服务是一个系统服务过程，由专业社会工作者外出至青少年夜间常到的地方（如歌舞厅、游戏厅、网吧、街头、公屋等公共场所）接触他们，认识他们，找出他们的需要并随时提供适当的服务，其工作手法主要有中心工作手法、户外工作手法和户内工作手法。     

从民事诉讼目的角度看美国民事陪审制度——为什么陪审制度在美国如此重要

民事诉讼陪审制度与民事诉讼目的具有紧密的关系,从"国家设立民事诉讼的目的是什么"这个问题入手对美国民事陪审制度进行分析,可以揭示出其程序保障价值以及它对美国的审前程序、证据规则等诸多制度的深刻影响,也能更清晰地看到陪审制度在美国民事诉讼中如此重要的原因。     

我国人民陪审制度的现状及法律完善

人民陪审制度是遏止司法腐败,实现司法公平、公正的一项司法制度。应尽快制定一部《人民陪审员法》确立人民陪审制度的宪法地位,科学确定陪审的方式和范围,细化人民陪审员的权利义务。