Protracted civil trials (defined here as lasting longer than 19 trial days or 100 trial hours) account for almost 12 percent of civil trial hours, even though they represent less than 1 percent of all civil trials. These trials are, therefore, a legitimate cause of concern to the judiciary. Protracted civil trials heard by juries are of particular concern for two reasons. First they impose a considerable burden of service on jurors. Second, they tend to involve difficult issues of fact that lay juries may not be able to comprehend adequately. This report describes the nature and management of a number of such trials as viewed by the judges and lawyers who participated in them. Originally published by the Federal Judicial Center.

First Published in 1988. More than 3 million Americans are called for jury duty every year. For most people, serving on a jury arouses two feelings: it is both a personal sacrifice and an exciting experience. And where a jury is asked to decide some cases, they make headlines. As a result of trials such as these, the American system of trial by jury faces unprecedented challenges. This volume offers an informed examination of the entire process, from jury selection to the delivery of a verdict. Quoting the experiences and expertise of F. Lee Bailey, William Kunstler, Clarence Darrow, Learned Hand, and many others, ttis book investigates such important factors as pretrial bias, the psychology of evidence, inadmissible testimony, interpreting the law, and what goes on inside the jury room. People often think that any book dealing with the law must be written in ‘legalese’ but in in this book, Professors Kassin and Wrightsman present their case in an exceptionally readable style. They utilize modern advances in psychology to illuminate the usually hidden world of trial practice and procedure and offer thoughtful possibilities for improving the system.