[eli]

Have you ever been on a jury? I kinda thought that way too, then I served as a juror for a serious criminal case. I was very impressed with the result of the selection process (nice mix of race/gender/class that pretty accurately represents the city) and the seriousness with which nearly all the jurors took their task. People really wanted to get it right.

Just one data point, but I believe there are studies to back this up -- people have far more confidence in the jury system if they have been on a jury.

[dnr]

Maybe criminal cases are different. I was a juror recently for a civil case, and while I agree the jurors took their task seriously, most of them lacked the analytic intelligence required to rationally weigh the evidence. It came down to whose lawyers told the more emotionally compelling story.

The whole experience left me with much less faith in the jury system.

[haberman]

Recent juror here on a serious criminal case, and I feel absolutely the same way.