Cases Against Police: Judges or Juries?

  • February 19, 2018
  • 12:00 PM - 1:00 CST
  • Corboy Law School, Room 1303
  • Evan Schrage, eschrage@luc.edu
  • Open to the public.
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    The Federalist Society is pleased to announce its second event of the spring semester, *Cases Against Police: Should Judges Or Juries Decide?* with Professor Suja Thomas of the University of Illinois College of Law.

    Criminal, civil, and grand juries have disappeared from the American legal system. Over time, despite their significant presence in the Constitution, juries have been robbed of their power by the federal government and the states. Consequently, more and more trials are conducted as so-called *bench trials* where the judge carries out his or her regular duties, as well as those of the jury. Police officers accused of committing crimes have observed this trend, and have opted to avoid facing a jury of their peers.

    This is not what the founders intended.

    Using the Constitution's text and historical sources, Professor Thomas will explore how the jury's authority has been taken and how it can be restored to its rightful, co-equal position as a branch of government.

    Loyola-Chicago's own Professor Stephen Rushin will provide commentary after Professor Thomas concludes her talk.

    Lunch will be provided.