How to Deliberate Respectfully on a Jury

If you've never been inside a jury room, you might be curious to know what goes on. Despite the hype portrayed in the media, it isn't exactly like Twelve Angry Men, though fireworks have been known to spark. Your goal should be to deliberate respectfully in the jury room - both toward your fellow jurors and to the defendant. Remember that a person's life hangs in the balance - even if only two years for petty theft - and your conscious deliberation is a key aspect of our country's judicial system.

Follow Instructions

Make sure that you listen carefully to the judge's instructions before you proceed to the jury room, and observe the rules of deliberation as you understand them to read. You will also need to follow the instructions of the foreperson, if one exists, so make sure you know who he or she is and understand their role. You can deliberate on a jury without arguing or bickering or name-calling if you simply observe procedure.

Ask to See Evidence Again

If you discover while you deliberate on a jury that a major point of contention is a piece of evidence, you can request to see that evidence again in the jury room. The court system wants you to arrive at a verdict and no one likes a deadlocked jury, so your requests will be met quickly and graciously. Don't allow yourself to argue over something that can be easily determined by viewing evidence.

Take Silent Votes

So that no one feels as though they have to vote a certain way, it is best to take silent votes while you deliberate on a jury. Each person writes 'guilty' or 'not guilty' on a piece of paper, and hands them to the foreperson. If all of the votes don't match, deliberation continues. This also allows jurors to change their minds without risking immediate anger from everyone else.

Remind Your Fellow Jurors

When things start to get heated - as they sometimes do - remind your fellow jurors that you have a purpose, and that all conversation should be geared toward achieving your goal. Whether the verdict is guilty or not guilty, it is important for all jurors to agree, and you can't "bully" someone else into agreeing with your point of view.

Take Turns Talking