Care should be taken to ensure that the language used in a verdict form does not require the jury to find the defendant not guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in order to acquit. These jurors want certainty, because doubt is uncomfortable and scary, and might make them miss christmas dinner. The fourth district court of appeal reversed a breach of contract case for failure to excuse a juror green for cause who said she had a bad taste from having been sued in th. One man is dead, another mans life is at stake, if theres a reasonable doubt in. What is the reasonable doubt of juror 8 in twelve angry men. Id guess that most jurors have a good idea after being instructed, but some confusion is understandable, because even courts disagree on how to express the standard.
While deliberating their verdict, the details are revealed. Some are more likely to be pointed out as prejudice, and others are more focused on reaching fair justice. Ever since you walked into this room, youve been acting like a selfappointed public avenger. The twelve jurors retire to the jury room, having been admonished that the defendant is innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Juror number 8 is the most importent person in 12 angry men. He brings up the idea of reasonable doubt which creates conflict between juror 8 and the rest of the jurors. Shows us that juror 8 has every respect for juror 3 the 8th juror stands alone for a few moments and we know that this is the problem which has been tormenting him. Its logical to assume that she wasnt wearing them when she was in bed. Juror 8 argues that reasonable doubt exists and that he therefore cannot in. Subsequently, the jurors slowly changed their vote to innocent on the basis of doubt. He must convince the others that reasonable doubt exists. May 08, 2005 juror number 8 is the most importent person in 12 angry men. He is the first person to vote not guilty which stopped the jury from deciding a boys life in 5 minutes. Juror 10 vents a torrent of condemnation of slumborn people, claiming they are no.
In canada, the expression beyond a reasonable doubt requires clarification for the benefit of the jury. Any reasonable doubt standard the jury selection blog. After debunking the womans testimony of seeing the murder in the middle of the night, eight asks if anyone still thinks there is not a reasonable doubt. Do most jurors understand what beyond a reasonable doubt. Their verdict brought forth a torrent of recrimination. Oct 23, 2015 4th juror presents the death weapon, the only one of its kind. In the play twelve angry men, the story line presents a variety of perspectives and opinions between twelve very different men. If its beyond reasonable doubt there can be no doubt at which way the. In the realm of law, all it takes is a reasonable doubt. Reasonable doubt standard archives the jury selection blog. What is the reasonable doubt of juror 8 in twelve angry. Thus, four abides by the rules of the jury that state one must vote not guilty if reasonable doubt exists.
It is now wellestablished that if there is a reasonable doubt about the juror s impartiality, the juror should be dismissed for cause. Jun 08, 2010 juror 8 briana harrison, lily morreale, and olivia yu slideshare uses cookies to improve functionality and performance, and to provide you with relevant advertising. For example, here is the definition from the federal pattern jury instructions. Nine of us now seem to feel that the defendant is innocent, but were just gambling on probabilities. Twelve angry men is a play by reginald rose adapted from his 1954 teleplay of the same title for the cbs studio one anthology television series. Although he is a skeptic, he abides by the rules of his position. The 8 th juror, through a stage direction that mimics his state of mind and are shown that this is the problem that has been tormenting him. However, this hole in the pocket story still counts against the accused throughout the discussion. Reasonable doubt, as explored in the movie starring henry fonda, is the concept that you should not vote guilty if there is reasonable doubt, no matter how sure others on the jury are.
He is quick to show temper, quick to form opinions on things about which he knows nothing. A jury holdout attempts to prevent a miscarriage of justice by. A loud, flashyhanded salesman type who has more important things to do than to sit on a jury. Twelve angry men by reginald rose fischer sophomores.
Feb 23, 2020 reasonable doubt is the standard of proof that must be exceeded to secure a conviction in a criminal case. In florida, a juror should be excused if there is any reasonable doubt as to the juror s ability to render an impartial verdict, and if it is a close call, the juror should be excused. A jury holdout attempts to prevent a miscarriage of justice by forcing his. He is passionate about justice and eventually convinces all the other jurors to side with him on a not guilty verdict.
A jury holdout attempts to prevent a miscarriage of justice by forcing his colleagues to reconsider the evidence. But we have a reasonable doubt, and thats something thats very valuable in. After juror 5 expresses doubt that an old man could have run from his. Juror 8 suggests a secret ballot, from which he will abstain. In the play twelve angry men also called twelve angry jurors, a jury must decide whether or not to reach a guilty verdict and sentence a 19yearold defendant to death. I think testimony that could put a boy into the electric chair should be. Only juror eight has any doubt about the boys guilt after the first vote. Four interrupts with, if were going to discuss this. A man who sees all sides of every question and constantly. A guilty verdict will result in the electric chair. Transcript for reasonable doubt and the jurors decision. Juror four is solely interested in the facts of the case. At the beginning of the play, eleven jurors vote guilty. Comparing and contrasting juror 3 and juror 8 from twelve.
Eleven of the jurors vote for conviction, each for. He is the only juror who does not change his position on the case. The 8th juror puts on his jacket and brings the 3rd juror s jacket to him. Juror number 8, the protagonist, easily bought a similar knife to the murder weapon and planted a further seed of reasonable doubt. Lifchus, 6 where the supreme court discussed the proper elements of a charge to the jury on the concept of reasonable doubt and noted that the correct explanation of the requisite burden of. Four makes the comment, this boylets say hes a product of a filthy neighborhood and a broken home. We may be trying to return a guilty man to the community. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Henry fonda, juror number 8, had earlier demonstrated that there were likely to be many knives like it in the neighbourhood.
Finally, juror 8 proposes that they take a second vote using a secret ballot. The case should have been a slam dunk, yet one man juror no. Juror 3 pretends to stab juror 8 and comes close to stabbing him. Described as peaceful and compassionate, juror 8 is focused on the truth of the case and refuses to give up until the other jurors face that truth. A district attorney has his life turned upside down when hes involved in a hit and run and another man is arrested for his crime and charged with murder. The defense and the prosecution have rested and the jury is filing into the jury room to decide if a young man is guilty or. Would that be considered self defense and it than the least was it reasonable doubt. In the first vote, juror 8 is the only one to vote not guilty. As the final holdout after the other jurors are able to put reasonable doubt into every witnesss testimony, juror 3 acts as if he alone is going. Juror 8 argues that he cannot vote guilty because reasonable doubt exists. Jan 23, 2020 at the beginning of the play, eleven jurors vote guilty. While being questioned, juror 4 fails to remember the exact name of the movie and the names of its stars.
Staged in a 1964 london production, the broadway debut came 50 years after cbs aired the play, on october 28, 2004, by the roundabout theatre company at the american airlines theatre, where it ran for 328 performances. But we have a reasonable doubt, and this is a safeguard which has enormous value to our system. After being very smug, juror 8 then asks juror 4 about hte movie he had watched a few days ago with his wife. Then, when hes lying in his bed, he heard a body hit the floor in the boys apartment, heard the woman scream from across the street, got to his front door as fast as he could. Apr 23, 2015 the twelve jurors retire to the jury room, having been admonished that the defendant is innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Reasonable doubt s03e10 it wasnt me internal 480p x264msdeztv. Four gives in, even though he has been a hard skeptic the entire case. Beyond a reasonable doubt means that the evidence presented and arguments put forth. He is courageous, compassionate, calm, and respects the opinions of others. Sidney lumets feature debut is a superbly written, dramatically effective courtroom thriller that rightfully stands as a modern classic. By then, however, everyone has changed his vote and no one else has any reasonable doubt, a point which 8 emphasizes. At times he can make offensive generalizations without recognizing the emotions of others. Firstly he had askaed for the kinife that stabbed the father yo be bought to them, and then he had shown all the other 11 jurors that the unique knife that the boy had stabbed his father with wasnt so unique. Reasonable doubt is the standard of proof that must be exceeded to secure a conviction in a criminal case.
Conceding that he has merely hung the jury, juror 8 suggests a secret ballot, from which he will abstain. He agrees to change his vote providing the outcome is a unanimous guilty. It is the balance of the other evidence that creates the reasonable doubt. Certainty and doubt theme in twelve angry men litcharts. He does this not because he really feels that the defendant is necessarily innocent, but for another reason altogether. Comparing and contrasting juror 3 and juror 8 from twelve angry men. May 03, 2005 juror 8 then asks juror 4 if he would be able to remember such details after such an incident of emotional stress. He says he cannot vote guilty because reasonable doubt exists.
If you continue browsing the site, you agree to the use of cookies on this website. Because thats the big question these jurors at the very least had reasonable doubt. What is reasonable doubt in the movie 12 angry men answers. Based on reasonable doubt, a verdict of not guilty is reached, which rose suggests. Why does reginald rose call the play, twelve angry men rather than twelve angry jurors. Reasonable doubt and the jurors decision video abc news. Reasonable doubt uncertainty as to a criminal defendants guilt. He is convinced that there is reasonable doubt and eventually succeeds in persuading the other jurors to acquit the defendant.
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