Book Review: The Power of the Jury: Transforming Citizens into Jurors Cambridge University Press; New Edition (September 15, 2022)

In her book The Power of the Jury: Transforming Citizens into Jurors, Professor Nancy Marder describes how the trial process, beginning with the jury summons and ending with a post-verdict meeting with the judge, transforms citizens into jurors and then back into more fully engaged citizens. In each chapter, Marder offers suggestions for making the process more effective so that jurors are better prepared to fulfill their role in the American justice system. In some instances, Marder’s suggestions elevate the transformation from citizens to jurors over the actual task that jurors exist to perform—namely, to use their collective wisdom and community values to decide cases fairly and impartially. Overall, however, The Power of the Jury provides valuable insights into how citizens can be transformed into effective jurors and how this transformation can impact the legal system in the United States and society as a whole.