Assignment: Judge vs. Jury

The Centervale Police Department (CPD) decided to assign Anne Doil and Justin to work together as partners because Anne has worked well as a mentor to Justin. Justin continues to learn from Anne's experience and expertise in the field and at the office.

Anne and Justin are attending the court proceedings of a case in which they arrested the defendant. The case is currently set for a jury trial. The prosecutor has substantial evidence against the defendant because Justin and Anne did a great job documenting the case. The prosecutor would like Justin to testify regarding the evidence he collected and the statements the defendant made during the arrest. It is Justin's first court appearance and he is nervous. Justin confides in Anne that he remembers the theory behind what he has learned and the roles of the players, but is unable to decide whether the judge or the jury is more important in a trial.

• What are the roles of the judge and the jury? How are the two roles similar and how are they different?

• Who among the two is more important in a trial process? Why?

• Explain the education, training, and selection processes for a judge. Do these processes alone make the judges the most important figures in the courtroom?

• Considering that some judges are elected, others are appointed, and some are chosen on the basis of merit, is justice inside the courtroom affected by the type of judicial selection?

• Support your positions on the above with references from your library research.