Is Trial By Jury On Trial?

The debate surrounding the utility of trial by jury continues to simmer within the legal fraternity. Some argue that allowing a group of laypersons to participate in determining the outcome of trials is inappropriate. Originally, jurors were neighbourhood witnesses who passed judgment on the basis of what they themselves knew. Tonight we ask the question, is trial by jury on trial? To discuss we are joined virtually by President of the Senate Tom Tavares Finson Q.C who has reservations about jury trials and in studio Alexander Williams, President of the Jamaican Bar Association whose official position has always been to maintain the tradition.