A hallmark of American criminal justice and of American democracy is the right to be tried by a jury of one's peers. But American juries are unrepresentative, in many respects, of the broader public, and the reasons for this are understudied. In particular, the process through which a pool of potential jurors is assembled in the courthouse is shrouded in obscurity. Much discretion is given to county court administrators in deciding how the master jury list is created, excuses and disqualifications are applied, and accommodations are granted. The policies and practices of local court systems can influence whether and how jury lists truly represent a cross-section of the public. In this policy lab, students will review data the Stanford Criminal Justice Center has received from the California Judicial Council related to jury engagement and will conduct interviews with, and gather additional data from court personnel responsible for the creation and management of juries at the local level. The goal will be to assess variations and determine best practices with regard to master list generation, excuses and disqualifications, responses to non-appearance, juror support services, and ongoing monitoring of outcomes. Students will carry out research assignments, individually or in groups, make regular presentations on their progress, and contribute to a final report. Elements used in grading: Attendance, Performance, Class Participation, Written Assignments, Final Paper. Students interested in joining the lab should submit an application (resume, transcript, and one-page statement of interest and relevant experience) on the SLS Policy Lab portal (go to link SLS Registrar https://registrar.law.stanford.edu/) and by email to Debbie Mukamal (dmukamal@law.stanford.edu) by Friday, September LAW 11 at 5:LAW 00 pm.
2-3 units · Law Mandatory P/R/F
A hallmark of American criminal justice and of American democracy is the right to be tried by a jury of one's peers. But American juries are unrepresentative, in many respects, of the broader public, and the reasons for this are understudied. In particular, the process through which a pool of potential jurors is assembled in the courthouse is shrouded in obscurity. Much discretion is given to county court administrators in deciding how the master jury list is created, excuses and disqualifications are applied, and accommodations are granted. The policies and practices of local court systems can influence whether and how jury lists truly represent a cross-section of the public. In this policy lab, students will review data the Stanford Criminal Justice Center has received from the California Judicial Council related to jury engagement and will conduct interviews with, and gather additional data from court personnel responsible for the creation and management of juries at the local level. The goal will be to assess variations and determine best practices with regard to master list generation, excuses and disqualifications, responses to non-appearance, juror support services, and ongoing monitoring of outcomes. Students will carry out research assignments, individually or in groups, make regular presentations on their progress, and contribute to a final report. Elements used in grading: Attendance, Performance, Class Participation, Written Assignments, Final Paper. Students interested in joining the lab should submit an application (resume, transcript, and one-page statement of interest and relevant experience) on the SLS Policy Lab portal (go to link SLS Registrar https://registrar.law.stanford.edu/) and by email to Debbie Mukamal (dmukamal@law.stanford.edu) by Friday, September 11 at 5:00 pm.
Offered in Autumn 2026 at Stanford University.