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In this article, and apparently this happens a lot, jurors are not allowed to research the laws they are supposed to reach a verdict on. Also, the jurors cannot get the court transcript or ask the prosecution to repeat the charges.

How is this the best alternative? Why can't jurors learn what they are incarcerating for?

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> In this article, and apparently this happens a lot, jurors are not allowed to research the laws they are supposed to reach a verdict on

The judge includes the law the defendant is charged with violating and an explanation of what must be proved and what legal defenses that are (with advice from both the prosecution and defense on what to include and on the wording) in the jury instruction material given to the jury before deliberation. Unless the judge and the defense attorney seriously screw up, that should give the jury everything they need to know about the relevant laws.

For a more in-depth look at the nature of the circus: http://lawcomic.net/guide/?p=299

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