Making Jury Trials Fair

“How can we improve jurors’ comprehension of legal instructions? In a tour de force, Greg Byrne’s remarkable book recommends a ‘jury-centric approach’ to addressing this perennial problem with using ordinary citizens to decide legal disputes. Greg Byrne argues persuasively that those engaged in lawmaking, developing legal procedures, and providing support to judges should also take a jury-centric approach, ensuring that their actions serve the goal of a well-informed jury. Highly recommended.” —Professor Valerie P Hans, Charles F Rechlin Professor of Law, Cornell Law School, US. “This is a must-read book for anyone interested in juror comprehension – academics, practitioners and policy makers. It draws on a vast array of literature and combines this with a real understanding of the law and how judges and courts work to make original and practical suggestions for improved procedures.” —Professor Fiona Leverick, Professor of Criminal Law and Criminal Justice, University of Glasgow, UK. “This book brings together the disparate strands of jury research into a coherent framework that can actually achieve reform. The ‘jury- centric approach’ is presented forcefully, clearly, and with great originality. Using case studies and presenting concrete proposals, this book is essential reading for anyone interested in jury reform.” —Professor Jonathan Clough, Associate Dean (International), Faculty of Law, Monash University, Australia.