Twelve Angry Men The American legal system, based on the ancient idea of "innocent, until proven guilty;" has its share of advantages and disadvantages. They all serve to build a system that has suffered years of trials and tribulations, having lost much of their usefulness in today's world. The cornerstone of the American legal system is the "trial by jury," in which a citizen who has been accused of a crime, has the right to …showed first 75 words of 761 total…

…showed last 75 words of 761 total…impartial judge, or the partial jury. Indeed, with the jury system, defendants can often try to express their humanity, in admitting their wrong but hoping that the jury can see themselves in a similar situation and sympathize. The human aspect of the jury has its advantages. But such advantages are often outweighed by verdicts that overlook too much fact in deference to sympathy and understanding. It is difficult to know where to draw the line.