The Jury and Democracy: How Jury Deliberation Promotes Civic Engagement and Political Participation

John Gastil · E. Pierre Deess · Philip J. Weiser · Cindy Simmons

Oct 2010 · Oxford University Press

About this ebook

Alexis de Tocqueville, John Stuart Mill, and the U.S. Supreme Court have all alleged that jury service promotes civic and political engagement, yet none could prove it. Finally, The Jury and Democracy provides compelling systematic evidence to support this view. Drawing from in-depth interviews, thousands of juror surveys, and court and voting records from across the United States, the authors show that serving on a jury can trigger changes in how citizens view themselves, their peers, and their government--and can even significantly increase electoral turnout among infrequent voters. Jury service also sparks long-term shifts in media use, political action, and community involvement. In an era when involved Americans are searching for ways to inspire their fellow citizens, The Jury and Democracy offers a plausible and realistic path for turning passive spectators into active political participants.

About the author

John Gastil is Professor of Communication and Adjunct Professor of Political Science at the University of Washington. E. Pierre Deess is Director of Institutional Research and Planning at the New Jersey Institute of Technology. Philip J. Weiser is Professor of Law at the University of Colorado. Cindy Simmons is an attorney who teaches Mass Media Law and Negotiation at the University of Washington.