11/21/2024 4:01:46 AM	PLS 64 Course Outline as of Fall 2019	Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  PLS 64	Title:  THE AMERICAN JURY SYSTEM
Full Title:  The American Jury System
Last Reviewed:8/28/2017

Units		Course Hours per Week			Nbr of Weeks	Course Hours Total
Maximum	1.00	Lecture Scheduled	1.00		17.5 max.	Lecture Scheduled	17.50
Minimum	1.00	Lab Scheduled	0		2 min.	Lab Scheduled	0
		Contact DHR	0			Contact DHR	0
		Contact Total	1.00			Contact Total	17.50
		Non-contact DHR	0			Non-contact DHR Total	0

Total Out of Class Hours:  35.00

Total Student Learning Hours: 52.50

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade Only
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly: 

Catalog Description:

This course will provide an overview of the evolution and current functions of the adversarial system that has evolved in the U.S. as a means of settling disputes.  The grand jury, the criminal petit jury, and the civil petit jury will be explored.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:

Recommended Preparation:
Eligibility for ENGL 100 or ESL 100 and Course Completion or Concurrent Enrollment in PLS 50

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

This course will provide an overview of the evolution and current functions of the adversarial system that has evolved in the U.S. as a means of settling disputes.  The grand jury, the criminal petit jury, and the civil petit jury will be explored.

(Grade Only)
Prerequisites:
Recommended:Eligibility for ENGL 100 or ESL 100 and Course Completion or Concurrent Enrollment in PLS 50
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:CSU;
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:		Effective:		Inactive:
Area:
CSU GE:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
IGETC:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
CSU Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Summer 2011	Inactive:
UC Transfer:		Effective:		Inactive:
C-ID:

Certificate/Major Applicable: Major Applicable Course

COURSE CONTENT

Student Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

1.  Explain the role juries play in the American criminal and civil systems.

2.  Identify criteria commonly utilized in the jury selection process.

3.  Draft jury questions to prepare juror questionnaire.

 

Objectives:

At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

1. Locate and report jury verdicts in anticipation of trial.

2. Create and utilize a jury chart.

3. Perform effectively and professionally with jury selection experts and counsel in the jury

    selection process.

4. Provide ongoing reports during trial and post-trial based on observation.

Topics and Scope

I. Course Overview and Vocabulary

II. History

     A. Laws of William the Conqueror

      B. Assize of Clarendon

      C. Magna Carta

      D. Declaration of Independence

      E. U.S. Constitution

         1. Bill of Rights

          2. 14th Amendment

III. Right to a Jury Trial

    A. Qualifications and criteria

    B. Duncan v. Louisiana

IV. Grand Juries

    A. Criminal

     B. Civil

V. Petit Jury

    A. Voir Dire/Jury Selection

         1. Drafting jury questionnaires

         2. Submission of jury questions

         3. Mock juries

         4. Jury consultants

         5. Challenges

    B. Death-Qualified Jury

    C. Jury Instructions

    D. Jury Deliberations

    E. Jury Verdicts - Jury nullification

    F. Juror Misconduct

    G. Juror Interviews

    H. The Jury Chart

    I. Jury Observation During Trial

    J. Post-Trial Interviews

VI. Selected Notorious Trials

VII. The Vanishing Jury Trial

    A. Alternative Dispute Resolution

    B. Bench Trials

    C. Limitations on Access

Assignments:

1. Research and analyze jury verdicts for assigned cases and report findings in writing and orally

2. Draft sample jury questions based on fact pattern presented

3. Create a jury chart

4. Engage with jury selection experts and counsel in the jury selection process.

5. Provide ongoing reports during trial and post-trial based on observation.

6. Participate in group work and class discussions

7. Quizzes (1-2)

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.

Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.		Writing 20 - 30%
Written report on jury verdicts
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 30 - 50%
Analysis of jury verdicts, formulate jury questions and jury selection process, jury chart
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.		Skill Demonstrations 0 - 0%
None
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.		Exams 15 - 20%
Quizzes
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 15 - 20%
Participation and group work

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

The American Jury System. Jonakait, Randolph. Yale University Press. 2016

Instructor Prepared Materials

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