"In this work, Hans and Vidmar review the historical evolution of the trial jury, the contemporary role of the jury in the American criminal justice system, and future prospects for the jury as an institutional force." (Choice).

This unique volume on modern jury systems presents in-depth coverage of juries in Australia, England, Canada, New Zealand, the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, Scotland, and the United States. Coverage involves civil as well as criminal juries. There is also a chapter on the newly revived criminal jury systems of Spain and Russia, and a chapter on potential revival of the jury that once existed in Japan. An introductory chapter provides a historical sketch of the development of the jury and a framework that is useful in comparing the jury systems discussed in the book. A final chapter surveys 46 other contemporary jury systems in Africa, Asia, the Mediterranean, Asia, the South Pacific, South America, the Caribbean and Europe. The book has enormous value for students of comparative law and for practitioners and policy makers who are concerned about issues such as `free press versus fair trial', pretrial prejudice, racial or ethnic bias, and complex evidence.

In this work, Hans and Vidmar review the historical evolution of the trial jury, the contemporary role of the jury in the American criminal justice system, and future prospects for the jury as an institutional force.