Monday, December 20, 2010

DiManno: How did Ephraim Brown jurors reach verdict?

DiManno in today's Star suggests reporters should be allowed to interview jurors after a trial to see how they reasoned.

I can see the attraction -- it would be interesting and why muzzle a juror after they have done their job? In America former jurors write books about their work!

But I think Canada has the system right.
Juror secrecy is intended to protect jurors -- no one will ever know who said what so jurors know they can speak totally freely. That's the same rule as judges have -- judges do have to explain their reasons (jurors do have to give a verdict) but discussions among judges prior to giving judgment are confidential.

http://bit.ly/hvwF6d

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Dimanno is a reporter; Of course he wants to interview jurors.

I sat in a jury a couple of years ago and I was quite stunned at the universality that people had about their disdain for even being in a jury pool (myself included). Many used lame excuses to avoid it.

Taking away secrecy would make selection even more acrimonious.

There is a lot more to say but I'll add this.
The desire by some politicians to give non citizens the right to vote (municipal elections was the debate)is an insult.Claiming that they contribute to the community is true to a point but they cannot serve on juries or serve our country in the military.Asking them to get citizenship before the right to vote is neither a hardship nor unfair.