4/29/2024 8:51:37 PM	PLS 64 Course Outline as of Summer 2011	New Course (First Version)
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 have 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

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 have 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
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

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

Upon completion of the course, the student will 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

1.  Course Overview and Vocabulary

2.  History:

     a. Laws of William the Conqueror

      b. Assize of Clarendon

      c. Magna Carta

      d. Declaration of Independence

      e. U.S. Constitution

          i. Bill of Rights

          ii. 14th Amendment

3.  Right to a Jury Trial:

    a. Qualifications

    b. Duncan v. Louisiana

4.  Grand Juries:

    a. Criminal

     b. Civil

5.  Petit Jury:

    a. Voir Dire

         i. Drafting jury questionnaires

         ii. Submission of jury questions

         iii. Mock juries

         iv. Jury consultants

         v. Challenges

    b. Death-Qualified Jury

    c. Jury Instructions

    d. Jury Deliberations

    e. Jury Verdicts

         i. Jury nullification

    f. Juror Misconduct

    g. Juror Interviews

    h. The Jury Chart

    i. Jury Observation During Trial

    j. Post-Trial Interviews

6.  Selected Notorious Trials

7. The Vanishing Jury Trial:

    a. Alternative Dispute Resolution

    b. Bench Trials

    c. Limitations on Access

Assignments:

1.  Research 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.  Participate in group work and class discussions

5.  1-2 quizzes

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%
Report on jury verdicts, draft jury questions
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 30 - 50%
Report on jury verdicts, draft jury questions, 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: 2006

Instructor Prepared Materials

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