The Importance of Jury Performance in Political and Press Trials
Keywords:
Jury, political trials, press trials, public freedoms, justice, judicial independence, defendants' rightsAbstract
The jury is considered one of the key pillars in democratic legal systems, playing a crucial role in ensuring justice and safeguarding public freedoms. In political and press trials, this institution can serve as a public oversight mechanism that prevents governmental influence over the judicial process and protects the rights of the accused. This study, employing a descriptive-analytical approach, examines the performance of juries in political and press trials from the perspective of ensuring public freedoms. The findings indicate that the independence of the jury, its composition, the extent of its influence on verdicts, and the manner in which laws are interpreted by the court are among the key factors in preserving or undermining public freedoms. In legal systems where the jury enjoys real independence and discretionary authority, the likelihood of fair verdicts and the protection of defendants' rights increases. However, in some systems, legal restrictions and governmental interventions have reduced the effectiveness of this institution. This study suggests that strengthening jury independence, clarifying the procedures for selecting members, and establishing protective mechanisms to prevent political pressures can enhance the role of this institution in ensuring public freedoms.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Saeb Ghaffari Heshejin, Mehdi Shabannia Mansour, Javad Mirghasemi (Author)
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