introduction to… twelve angry men by reginald rose

Introduction to…Introduction to…

Twelve Angry MenTwelve Angry Men

By Reginald RoseBy Reginald Rose

Do not write:Do not write:OverviewOverview

Setting: Setting: The jury room of a New York Court of LawThe jury room of a New York Court of Law 19571957 Exposition:Exposition: A jury must decide whether or not to reach A jury must decide whether or not to reach

a guilty verdict and sentence a 19 year old a guilty verdict and sentence a 19 year old defendant to deathdefendant to death

Courtroom terms:Courtroom terms: Criminal CaseCriminal Case Refers to a case where someone has committed Refers to a case where someone has committed

a crimea crime ProsecutionProsecution The attorney and people on the government’s The attorney and people on the government’s

sideside DefendantDefendant The person charged with committing the crimeThe person charged with committing the crime WitnessWitness Someone who has knowledge about the crimeSomeone who has knowledge about the crime

VerdictVerdict The jury’s decisionThe jury’s decision JuryJury 12 people who listen to the case and decide on 12 people who listen to the case and decide on

a verdicta verdict ForemanForeman The head juror in charge of asking questions The head juror in charge of asking questions

and reading the verdictand reading the verdict AcquittalAcquittal The jurors find the defendant “not guilty”The jurors find the defendant “not guilty” Hung JuryHung Jury The jurors cannot decideThe jurors cannot decide

First Degree MurderFirst Degree Murder Murder that is planned and deliberateMurder that is planned and deliberate Death PenaltyDeath Penalty The killing of a convicted offenderThe killing of a convicted offender Double JeopardyDouble Jeopardy A defendant cannot be tried twice for the A defendant cannot be tried twice for the

same crimesame crime ParoleParole supervised release of a prisoner before supervised release of a prisoner before

the end of their prison sentencethe end of their prison sentence

Reasonable DoubtReasonable Doubt Jurors can only find the defendant guilty if Jurors can only find the defendant guilty if they are 100% completely convincedthey are 100% completely convinced If there is ANY doubt…If there is ANY doubt… they cannot convict the defendantthey cannot convict the defendant ““The juror better be be damn sure!”The juror better be be damn sure!” If there is NO doubt, then the defendant is If there is NO doubt, then the defendant is

guiltyguilty With any death penalty, there must be a With any death penalty, there must be a

unanimous verdictunanimous verdict All defendants are innocent until proven All defendants are innocent until proven

guiltyguilty

The Bill of Rights: The Bill of Rights: The 5th AmendmentThe 5th Amendment

What it says…What it says… No person shall be held to answer for a capitol, No person shall be held to answer for a capitol,

or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presented or indictment of a jury…presented or indictment of a jury…

Nor shall any person be subject for the same Nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limboffence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb

Nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to Nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of life, liberty, or property, without due process of lawlaw

Nor shall private property be taken for public Nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensationuse, without just compensation

What it means…What it means…

Any individual cannot be punished or penalized for a crime without first being convicted of the crime by a jury

Furthermore, no one can be put on trial twice for the same crime or be forced to be witness at his or her own hearing

All persons have the right to freedom, their own property, and to due process; no one can be executed without this process

The judicial system at The judicial system at its best or worst…its best or worst…

Lawyers for Cameron Todd Willingham’s family recently presented expert testimony at a court of inquiry in Texas to determine whether Willingham was wrongfully convicted and executed for starting a fire that killed his children. The lawyers presented testimony from nine experts who have reviewed evidence presented by fire marshals and found “many critical errors,” as one report stated.

Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen has commuted the death sentence of Gaile Owens. She was sentenced to death for soliciting the murder of her husband, but her case garnered widespread publicity because of severe abuse she had endured at his hands. Governor Bredesen cited similar cases as his reason for granting clemency, stating: "As heinous as the crime was, the record of how Tennessee has dealt with similar cases over the last century makes it clear that her death would have been a terrible miscarriage of justice."

Ray Krone - Air Force veteran. Wrongly convicted and imprisoned for 10 1/2 years. Evidence - his teeth matched bite marks on the victim’s shoulder! No other evidence was presented that could link him to the crime.

Ronald Cotton - wrongly convicted of rape and attempted murder . Served 10 1/2 years and was eventually cleared of charges due to new DNA testing in 1995. The state offered him $5000 in compensation.

Need I say more?

The Bill of Rights:The Bill of Rights:The Sixth AmendmentThe Sixth Amendment

In all criminal prosecutions,the In all criminal prosecutions,the accused shall enjoy the right accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the by an impartial jury of the State and district wherin the State and district wherin the crime was committed, which crime was committed, which district previously shall have district previously shall have been ascertained by law. been ascertained by law.

Selecting a JurySelecting a Jury Any registered voter or person with a Any registered voter or person with a

drivers license is sent a jury summons in drivers license is sent a jury summons in the mail at random.the mail at random.

That person must show up to their local That person must show up to their local courthouse on their assigned day.courthouse on their assigned day.

The prospective jurors are then The prospective jurors are then questioned in the courtroom by both questioned in the courtroom by both attorneys.attorneys.

An attorney can object to any juror at any An attorney can object to any juror at any time.time.

Once the questioning is over and both the Once the questioning is over and both the prosecuting and defense attorneys agree prosecuting and defense attorneys agree on the 12 jurors, they are sworn in.on the 12 jurors, they are sworn in.

"Do you and each of you solemnly swear "Do you and each of you solemnly swear that you will well and truly try and a true that you will well and truly try and a true deliverance make between the United deliverance make between the United States and ______, the defendant at the States and ______, the defendant at the bar, and a true verdict render according to bar, and a true verdict render according to the evidence, so help you God?" the evidence, so help you God?"

The Purpose of the American The Purpose of the American JuryJury

To achieve a fair and impartial decisionTo achieve a fair and impartial decision To determine guilt/liability or innocenceTo determine guilt/liability or innocence To fight corruptionTo fight corruption To give the people a voice in governmentTo give the people a voice in government To preserve individual libertyTo preserve individual liberty To protect the rights of the accusedTo protect the rights of the accused

What happens in a What happens in a criminal case of first criminal case of first degree murder with a degree murder with a

guilty verdict?guilty verdict?

Depends on what the jury Depends on what the jury decides. decides.

Death Penalty Fun FactsDeath Penalty Fun Facts

American States without the American States without the Death Penalty:Death Penalty:

1.1. AlaskaAlaska2.2. HawaiiHawaii3.3. IowaIowa4.4. MaineMaine5.5. MassachusettsMassachusetts6.6. MichiganMichigan7.7. MinnesotaMinnesota8.8. New JerseyNew Jersey9.9. WisconsonWisconson

10.10. New Mexico *2 New Mexico *2 inmates are still on inmates are still on death rowdeath row

11.11. New York *the law New York *the law was changed after was changed after our story takes placeour story takes place

12.12. North DakotaNorth Dakota13.13. Rhode IslandRhode Island14.14. VermontVermont15.15. West VirginiaWest Virginia

Executions Executions

Total number of executions since 1976…Total number of executions since 1976… 1,230 people1,230 people Since 1973, over 130 people have been Since 1973, over 130 people have been

released from death row with evidence of released from death row with evidence of their innocence.their innocence.

Death RowDeath Row

There were 61 women on death row in There were 61 women on death row in America as of January 1, 2010.America as of January 1, 2010.

This is 1.9% of the total death row This is 1.9% of the total death row population.population.

Total people waiting for execution…Total people waiting for execution… 3,2613,261

Death row inmates by state…Death row inmates by state… California has 697 people waiting for California has 697 people waiting for

execution.execution. This is the most.This is the most. Florida has the second most with 398 Florida has the second most with 398

people waiting.people waiting. Texas has the third most with 337 people Texas has the third most with 337 people

waiting.waiting. New Hampshire has the least with one New Hampshire has the least with one

person waiting.person waiting.

The death penalty is expensive!The death penalty is expensive! The California death penalty system costs The California death penalty system costs

taxpayers $114 million per year beyond taxpayers $114 million per year beyond the cost of keeping convicts locked up for the cost of keeping convicts locked up for life.life.

California taxpayers have paid $250 California taxpayers have paid $250 million for each of the state’s executionsmillion for each of the state’s executions

L.A. Times, March 6, 2005L.A. Times, March 6, 2005

Number of executions by stateNumber of executions by statesince 1976…since 1976…

Texas has the most with 463 executionsTexas has the most with 463 executions Virginia has the second most with 108 Virginia has the second most with 108 California is sixteenth with 13 executionsCalifornia is sixteenth with 13 executions

Death Penalty Changes…Death Penalty Changes…

In 2005, the Supreme Court struck down In 2005, the Supreme Court struck down the death penalty for juveniles.the death penalty for juveniles.

22 defendants had been executed for 22 defendants had been executed for crimes they committed as juveniles since crimes they committed as juveniles since 1976.1976.

In 2002, the Supreme Court said that is In 2002, the Supreme Court said that is was unconstitutional to execute a was unconstitutional to execute a defendant with a mental disabilitydefendant with a mental disability

Methods of Execution…Methods of Execution…

HangingHanging

Until the 1890s, hanging was the primary Until the 1890s, hanging was the primary method of execution used in the United States.method of execution used in the United States.

Lethal injection is the primary method, but New Lethal injection is the primary method, but New Hampshire and Washington have hanging as an Hampshire and Washington have hanging as an option.option.

For execution by this method, the inmate may be For execution by this method, the inmate may be weighed the day before the execution, and a weighed the day before the execution, and a rehearsal is done using a sandbag of the same rehearsal is done using a sandbag of the same weight as the prisoner. weight as the prisoner.

This is to determine the length of 'drop' This is to determine the length of 'drop' necessary to ensure a quick death. necessary to ensure a quick death.

Sometimes the prisoner does not die Sometimes the prisoner does not die immediately, and it is a slow and painful way of immediately, and it is a slow and painful way of death. death.

The Electric ChairThe Electric Chair

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Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Kentuckuy, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Kentuckuy, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia have lethal Tennessee, and Virginia have lethal injection as primary method, but this is an injection as primary method, but this is an optionoption

The first electric chair was built in 1888 as a The first electric chair was built in 1888 as a more humane way of death than hanging in New more humane way of death than hanging in New YorkYork

The prisoner wears a skull cap that sends The prisoner wears a skull cap that sends electrodes in to the brain. electrodes in to the brain.

The electrocutioner sends one jolt of electricity The electrocutioner sends one jolt of electricity which lasts 30 seconds and then checks to see if which lasts 30 seconds and then checks to see if the prisoner is still alive. the prisoner is still alive.

If he is, another jolt of electricity is sent through If he is, another jolt of electricity is sent through the prisoner’s brain.the prisoner’s brain.

The Gas ChamberThe Gas Chamber

Arizona, California, Maryland, Missouri, Arizona, California, Maryland, Missouri, and Wyoming have lethal injection as and Wyoming have lethal injection as primary method, but this is another optionprimary method, but this is another option

In 1924, Nevada introduced cyanide gas In 1924, Nevada introduced cyanide gas chamber to replace the Electric Chair. chamber to replace the Electric Chair.

The prisoner is instructed to breathe The prisoner is instructed to breathe deeply so that the cyanide will stop his deeply so that the cyanide will stop his heart.heart.

The prisoners often hold their breath and The prisoners often hold their breath and struggle, they do not lose consciousness struggle, they do not lose consciousness immediately. immediately.

This is a very painful/scary way to die.This is a very painful/scary way to die.

Firing SquadFiring Squad

Oklahoma is the only state to offer this as Oklahoma is the only state to offer this as an option if lethal injections is ruled an option if lethal injections is ruled unconstitutionalunconstitutional

The most recent death by firing squad was The most recent death by firing squad was in 1996 where an inmate in Idaho chose in 1996 where an inmate in Idaho chose this method over lethal injection.this method over lethal injection.

For execution by this method, the inmate is typically For execution by this method, the inmate is typically bound to a chair with leather straps across his waist and bound to a chair with leather straps across his waist and head.head.

They are sat behind of an oval-shaped canvas wall. They are sat behind of an oval-shaped canvas wall. The chair is surrounded by sandbags to absorb the The chair is surrounded by sandbags to absorb the

inmate's blood. inmate's blood. Standing in an enclosure 20 feet away, five shooters are Standing in an enclosure 20 feet away, five shooters are

armed with .30 caliber rifles loaded with single rounds.armed with .30 caliber rifles loaded with single rounds. Each of the shooters aims his rifle through a slot in the Each of the shooters aims his rifle through a slot in the

canvas and fires at the inmate. canvas and fires at the inmate.

Lethal InjectionLethal Injection

All of the 35 states with the death penalty All of the 35 states with the death penalty have this as their primary method of have this as their primary method of execution.execution.

In 1977, Oklahoma introduced lethal In 1977, Oklahoma introduced lethal injection and Texas was the first to utilize it injection and Texas was the first to utilize it in 1982.in 1982.

Potassium Chloride is the solution that Potassium Chloride is the solution that ultimately kills the prisoner but he/she ultimately kills the prisoner but he/she receives an injection of anesthetic to receives an injection of anesthetic to knock him/her unconscious first. knock him/her unconscious first.

Methods used since 1976…Methods used since 1976… Lethal InjectionLethal Injection 1,056 1,056 ElectrocutionElectrocution 157157 Gas ChamberGas Chamber 1111 HangingHanging 33 Firing SquadFiring Squad 33

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introduction to… twelve angry men by reginald rose

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