Cjs/220 Introduction to Criminal Court System - Courtroom Process Paper

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Jury trial, is a number of people selected according to the law and sworn to determine, in accordance with the law as instructed by the court, certain matters of fact based evidence presented in the trial, and to render a verdict. (Siegel, Schmalleger, & Worral, 2011). The jury listens to the evidence that each side presents during the trial and renders a verdict based on how persuasive each side's evidence is. The judge handles questions of law and procedure during a jury trial, such as addressing attorneys' objections to questions or evidence or ruling on motions that the attorneys make.

A bench trial is decided on by a single person the judge. A jury trial is deliberated amongst several people, and a verdict is agreed upon. A jury trial also protects the defendant against the corrupt or overzealous prosecutor and against the compliant, biased, judge. (Siegel,

schmalleger, & Worral, 2011). In a well-known case or where a defendant feels an impartial jury is difficult to select, they may opt for a bench trial. At a jury trial, the judge must rule on the procedural and evidentiary issues such as who can testify, what witnesses can testify about, and what documents or physical evidence the jury can consider. At a bench trial, the judge makes the same procedural decisions, hears the evidence, and decides whether the defendant is guilty or not guilty.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the courtroom process has many functions that come together and function as a whole in the end. Bail is a wonderful system provided you can afford to bail out. If you are one of the many poor, you are left setting in jail. Bails bondsmen are brave people, to stick their neck out on a limb, to post bond for people they don’t know. Some return for court and others flee leaving the bondsman holding the bag. Plea bargaining is another useful tool, which can have its advantages and disadvantages for the criminal justice system, the defendant, the defense, and the prosecutor. Jury trials are favored over bench trials due to the common people are deciding your fate, over the judge. The criminal justice system has come a long way over the years; some changes have been good, and others really make one question the system.

References:

Cornell University Law School, Bail, https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/bail

Siegel, Schmalleger, & Worral, 2011, Courts and Criminal Justice in America