About the book
James Donovan takes a comprehensive approach to the history of the jury in modern France by investigating the legal, political, sociocultural, and intellectual aspects of jury trial from the Revolution through the twentieth century. He demonstrates that these juries, through their decisions, helped shape reform of the nation’s criminal justice system.
From their introduction in 1791 as an expression of the sovereignty of the people through the early 1900s, argues Donovan, juries often acted against the wishes of the political and judicial authorities, despite repeated governmental attempts to manipulate their composition. High acquittal rates for both political and nonpolitical crimes were in part due to juror resistance to the harsh and rigid punishments imposed by the Napoleonic Penal Code, Donovan explains.
In response, legislators gradually enacted laws to lower penalties for certain crimes and to give jurors legal means to offer nuanced verdicts and to ameliorate punishments. Faced with persistently high acquittal rates, however, governments eventually took powers away from juries by withdrawing many cases from their purview and ultimately destroying the panels' independence in 1941.
Editions of Juries and the Transformation of Criminal Justice in France in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780807833636
- Paperback
- ISBN 9781469622187
- EBook
- ISBN 9781469604404
- EBook
- ISBN 9780807895771
- EBook
- ISBN 9798893132090
- PDF
- ISBN 9798890879820
Read an Excerpt
James Donovan takes a comprehensive approach to the history of the jury in modern France by investigating the legal, political, sociocultural, and intellectual aspects of jury trial from the Revolution through the twentieth century. He demonstrates that these juries, through their decisions, helped shape reform of the nation’s criminal justice system.
From their introduction in 1791 as an expression of the sovereignty of the people through the early 1900s, argues Donovan, juries often acted against the wishes of the political and judicial authorities, despite repeated governmental attempts to manipulate their composition. High acquittal rates for both political and nonpolitical crimes were in part due to juror resistance to the harsh and rigid punishments imposed by the Napoleonic Penal Code, Donovan explains.
In response, legislators gradually enacted laws to lower penalties for certain crimes and to give jurors legal means to offer nuanced verdicts and to ameliorate punishments. Faced with persistently high acquittal rates, however, governments eventually took powers away from juries by withdrawing many cases from their purview and ultimately destroying the panels' independence in 1941.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Juries and the Transformation of Criminal Justice in France in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries about?
James Donovan takes a comprehensive approach to the history of the jury in modern France by investigating the legal, political, sociocultural, and intellectual aspects of jury trial from the Revolution through the twentieth century. He demonstrates that these juries, through their decisions, helped shape reform of the nation’s criminal justice system.
From their introduction in 1791 as an expression of the sovereignty of the people through the early 1900s, argues Donovan, juries often acted against the wishes of the political and judicial authorities, despite repeated governmental attempts to manipulate their composition. High acquittal rates for both political and nonpolitical crimes were in part due to juror resistance to the harsh and rigid punishments imposed by the Napoleonic Penal Code, Donovan explains.
In response, legislators gradually enacted laws to lower penalties for certain crimes and to give jurors legal means to offer nuanced verdicts and to ameliorate punishments. Faced with persistently high acquittal rates, however, governments eventually took powers away from juries by withdrawing many cases from their purview and ultimately destroying the panels' independence in 1941.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Juries and the Transformation of Criminal Justice in France in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries?
Law > Jurisprudence and general issues > Legal history
Where can I read a sample of Juries and the Transformation of Criminal Justice in France in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780807833636
How long is Juries and the Transformation of Criminal Justice in France in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries and how many pages does it have?
Juries and the Transformation of Criminal Justice in France in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries has 272 page(s)
Is Juries and the Transformation of Criminal Justice in France in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?
Yes it is a part of series Studies in Legal History
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Juries and the Transformation of Criminal Justice in France in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries?
James M. Donovan
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Juries and the Transformation of Criminal Justice in France in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780807833636) and paperback(ISBN 9781469622187) and ebook(ISBN 9781469604404) and ebook(ISBN 9780807895771) and ebook(ISBN 9798893132090) and pdf(ISBN 9798890879820)
Where can I buy Juries and the Transformation of Criminal Justice in France in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Juries and the Transformation of Criminal Justice in France in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries from below
Where can I buy Juries and the Transformation of Criminal Justice in France in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries?