In this editorial, we’ve explored possible improvements that could be made to the American jury system by examining some popular fictional stories about truth and justice.

When the State exercises its awesome power and commands people to walk away from their everyday lives in order to decide the fate of someone they may not know, the State should compensate for this inconvenience by providing the jury with the ability to make the process run as smoothly as possible. They should be permitted to take notes, receive jury instructions in written form, and cross-examine any witness to fill in the gaps that may exist. Additionally, the accused person, whom is at the mercy of these individuals who often view jury duty as a burden rather than a civic duty and important responsibility, should be afforded the right to an impartial jury of his or her peers.

It seems fair to say that these simple reforms for juries and the jury process would ensure a system with fewer flaws and more appropriate results.