Introduction to
Twelve Angry Men
Mayfield
Agenda:
History on Twelve Angry Men
 How is the Law Involved?
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History of Criminal Law
Selection of a Jury
Function of a Jury
Law of Evidence
Related issues and themes
 Setting the Stage: Responsibility, plot
summary
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History on
Twelve Angry Men
The play was inspired by the author, Reginald
Rose’s, experience of jury service
 The 12 “Angry Men” are the individuals that
make up a trial jury for the purposes of hearing
a legal case and interpreting the facts, and
finally returning with a verdict of either guilty or
not guilty for the accused
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History of Criminal Law
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Early Juries
◦ Trial by jury was brought to England in the mid 11th
Century (1066)
◦ In Medieval Europe, trials were usually decided by
ordeals, where it was believed that God intervened,
“revealing the wrongdoer and upholding the
righteous”
 i.e. Ordeal by Water: the person who was accused was
“tested” in water. If the accused floated then it meant he/she
was guilty (surfacing to be punished), and if the accused sank,
it meant that he/she was innocent…
◦ In 1215, the Catholic Church decided that truth by
ordeal was merely superstitious, and they needed a
more credible system
Early Juries cont’d
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The first jury was made up of local people who were
expected to know the defendant
Jurors were to “say the truth” (nowadays it is called
“deliberating toward a verdict”)
By the 14th Century, the role of the jury finally became
that of judgment by evidence
By the 15th Century, trial by jury became the dominant
mode of resolving legal issues, and it was not until
centuries later that the jury assumed a more modern
role of deciding on facts on that which is heard in a
court of law
Selection of a Jury
A large group of citizens are called to appear before the
court for jury duty (usually receiving a letter in the mail)
 Each province and state (both Canada and USA) has its
own qualifications for those who may be eligible to serve
on a jury
 Universally, jurors must be:
◦ citizens of that nation, local residents, of majority age,
of approved integrity (others must vouch for the
“character” of that individual)
 Both the prosecution and the defense examine the jurors
to determine whether cause for challenge in any
particular case exists
 There are many disqualifications and exemptions from
being a juror
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Function of a Jury
Whether evidence is properly admissible or not (allowed
or not) is a question for the court, but the weight and
credibility of that evidence is determined by the jury
 After the evidence has been presented, the two counsels,
first the prosecution then the defense, “sum up” their
arguments in a manner that is favorable to their own side
 The judge makes a charge to the jury about the rules of
law applicable in that particular case and sends them off
to deliberate
 Juries deliberate (consider and talk out the facts,
arguments, testimony, evidence) until they reach an
agreement (unanimous in criminal trial) and return to the
court with a verdict as to the guilt or innocence of the
defendant
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Importance & Role of a
Jury
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKpiw
pajm6I
Law of Evidence
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Burden of Proof
◦ Burden of producing evidence beyond all
reasonable doubt (persuading the jury to
believe) rests with the prosecution to prove
guilt using:
◦ due process: a set of procedures designed to
make sure that people are treated fairly by
the government
 based on the idea that a person cannot be deprived
of life, liberty or property without appropriate legal
procedures and safeguards
Law of Evidence cont’d
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Relevance
◦ Evidence is relevant when it has a tendency to
prove or disprove disputed facts
 i.e. eyewitness testimony is relevant because it can
prove an event happened
Law of Evidence cont’d
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Hearsay
◦ Statements made outside of court by
someone who is not present to testify under
oath at trial
 One reason for excluding this evidence is because
cross-examination can’t occur, which is the
opportunity for one side to ask questions to that
witness in hopes of refuting his/her
information/credibility
Law of Evidence cont’d
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Witnesses
◦ Nearly all persons with knowledge relevant to
the case can testify
◦ Expert witnesses can also be called on, which
are experts in their field of work and can
interpret findings, examine situations,
forensics, etc.
 i.e. psychologist, medical doctor, coroner
About the Play
The play deals with the sensitive issues of
prejudice and racism, relying heavily on the
portrayal of stereotypes
 You must be alerted to the fact that the views
of the jurors, as improper as they are (mid 20th
Century), did influence the jury
system/decisions for many years
 This controversy emphasizes the play’s
important theme of justice prevailing, even if
one person stands up for what is right
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Theme: The Triumph and
Fragility of Justice
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Three key elements of the Judicial system are
demonstrated in the play:
◦ The defendant does not have to demonstrate his
innocence. Innocent until proven guilty.
◦ The verdict must be unanimous since unanimity
guards against a miscarriage of justice.
◦ The defendant can be convicted only in the absence of
reasonable doubt.
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"It is better that a guilty man be set free than an
innocent man be convicted.
Theme: Reasonable &
Unreasonable Belief
It is important to examine not only our own
beliefs but also those of others.
 We must ask whether these beliefs are
consistent with each other and coherent with
reality as we best understand it to be.
 We must also examine our logic (way of
thinking) and beware of our fallacies (deceptive,
misleading or false beliefs) and prejudices
(class, race, other).
 We often let our emotions govern our decisions
more than unbiased logical reasoning
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Setting the Stage
The Charge to the Jury: Responsibility
The film opens in a courtroom, wherein we see
a young man who appears to belong to some
ethnic minority. We soon learn that he is on
trial for the murder of his father.
 The judge instructs the jury that their vote must
be unanimous and that, if found guilty, the boy
will face the death penalty.
 Cut to the jury room where the story takes
place.
 An anonymous vote is taken where all the jurors
vote guilty, save one...
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