Miscellaneous

Memories -- Are They Enough?

By Anne Skove, Esq.

Should a person's life hang (no pun intended) on jurors' memories?

Without written copies of instructions, that's exactly what happens. Critics of the Louisiana criminal justice system (don't get us started) say jurors simply cannot recall 30-40 pages' worth of jury instructions.

So, can Louisiana jurors get a written copy? Yes -- BUT only if both sides agree. And agreement between defense and prosecution on this issue is rare as hen's teeth.

See Critics Say Many Jurors Enter Deliberations Empty Handed, Mike Hoss, WWLTV (May 19, 2009).

Full post as published by court-o-rama.org on May 23, 2009 (boomark / email).