Hans, Valerie P. “Deliberation and Dissent: 12 Angry Men Versus the Empirical Reality of Juries.” Symposium: The 50th Anniversary of 12 Angry Men 82.2 (2007). 16 Nov. 2007 < http://lawreview.kentlaw.edu/articles/82-2/Hans%20Author%20Approved%20Edits%20LR%20(H)(P).pdf>

 

            In this paper the author, Valerie P. Hans, studies the effect that the movie 12 Angry Men has had on the American society. 12 Angry Men has been used in numerous classrooms throughout US to teach students about the jury system and negotiations and has given insight to the deliberations behind the closed doors of the jury. This movie also jumps started research in the fields of psychology and sociology, about how juries come to a decision, and the process of deliberation and the behavior of the jurors. This led to interviews of jurors, judges and lawyers, some taping of jury deliberations and mock trials. The results from these research showed that the initial majority vote usually resulted in the final verdict and only a very small percentage of cases the initial minority vote resulted in the final verdict. 90% of initial majority resulted in a final verdict while the rest resulted in initial minority winning or hang jury.
            While only a small percentage of that data supports the jury from 12 Angry Men, research has show that deliberation does have similar effect as in the movie. Deliberation allows for a clear understanding of the case and in cases of a diverse jury, shows the case from different points of view as unique perspectives are seen. While it may seem that the jurors in 12 Angry Men are not diverse, since all of them are white men, on a closer look it is evident that they are people with very different experiences, be it the old men who has lived most of his life, the immigrant or the juror who grew up in a bad neighborhood. This movie acts as a great example of a real jury deliberation behind closed door