JURY COURT: AN ANALYSIS OF THE METHOD FOR CHOOSING JURORS

Abstract

This scientific article aims to analyze the method for choosing jurors who will be part of the sentencing council in Brazil, considering that it is composed of a portion of the population that does not have professional legal knowledge, and that such knowledge is not required. Its problem is the exceptional need to ensure the professional quality of the jurors chosen to be part of the sentencing council. Thus, it is important to ask, in line with the problem: is the method for choosing jurors in Brazil the most appropriate for ensuring fair trials? Regarding the question posed above, this article has the general objective of analyzing the current model for choosing citizens who will be part of the sentencing council. Its specific objectives are to understand the historical context of the jury court; to present the lack of concern of the contemporary model for composing the jury court; contextualize the lack of professional legal knowledge of jurors and understand the impact and harm that can be caused by the current model with regard to trials. The methodology of this article used bibliographic research, based on scientific articles, monographs and books, as well as online websites. This research addressed a general overview of the jury court, explaining its history in Brazil, and also intends to point out the possible distortion in the outcome of trials of intentional crimes against life based on the lack of technical knowledge of jurors. As a result, it brought to light an effective alternative, which did not compromise the constitutional guarantee of the jury court body, but which solved the problem.