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A Trial by Jury
A Trial by Jury
Author: D. Graham Burnett, D. Graham Burnett
Jury duty happens to everyone. When the call came to Graham Burnett, a young historian, he had a shock in store. A Trial by Jury is his startling account of how performing this familiar civic duty challenged him in ways he never thought possible and turned into one of the most consuming experiences of his life. — Burnett begins with the story of ...  more »
ISBN-13: 9780375413032
ISBN-10: 0375413030
Publication Date: 9/11/2001
Pages: 208
Rating:
  • Currently 3/5 Stars.
 8

3 stars, based on 8 ratings
Publisher: Knopf
Book Type: Hardcover
Other Versions: Paperback
Members Wishing: 1
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

reviewed A Trial by Jury on
Helpful Score: 2
Interesting if you like court cases and jury tales. (Author is a kook, though.)
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reviewed A Trial by Jury on + 152 more book reviews
Got this book through paperbackswap.com. Think I added it to my wish list after seeing it on someone's recommended book list. It was a pretty quick read. I happen to be an attorney although I've never done any trial work.

The author is a pompous *** who pretty much looks down his nose at everyone involved in the trial--his fellow jurors, the judge, prosecutor, etc. With respect to his fellow jurors, he makes assumptions about them as people, often based on stereotypes. It's clear that he thinks he's the smartest person in the jury room and maybe even the courtroom. It would be interesting to get feedback from the jurors on their opinions of the author.

There were a few times the author also brought up some ancient philosophers or historians that I (and I'm assuming most folks) never heard of--I'm guessing simply to impress the reader.

I was also disgusted that the author's goal, pretty much from the outset, was to have a hung jury. After a few days of deliberation, the majority were in favor of not guilty. However, there were one or two holdouts. The author was the foreman. As they voted once again by writing on blank cards, he collected the cards. Adele had been one of the holdouts. The author collected her card, and "placed it, consciously and more or less conspicuously, on the bottom of the pile. I wanted the full dismay of the room to land on her if she had voted for a conviction." I was horrified that the author would do sommething like this. He should have shuffled the cards. As it was, all the votes were "not guilty."
reviewed A Trial by Jury on
This was just okay. It is written from the perspective a of jury member which was different. The style in which it written read more like a text book than a novel to me.
reviewed A Trial by Jury on + 404 more book reviews
A Trial by Jury is a well-written book, of that there is no doubt.... it is a very credible point-of-view of the inner workings of a trial by jury. The reader will be particularly impressed by the well-reasoned and similarly well-stated conclusion about the awesome power of the state... A very good read and highly recommended. amazon review
The author is kind of pompous, but he knows it, and its his story, so thats okay.


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