The Bilingual Jury: The Inclusion of Non-English Speaking Jurors and its Effect On Jury Deliberation and Jury Verdicts

越来越多的美国公民英语水平不够好，无法担任陪审团成员，这对一个由同僚组成的陪审团进行审判的司法体系产生了影响。新墨西哥州是唯一一个非英语陪审员经常担任陪审团成员的州，但没有研究调查陪审员之间的多语言如何影响陪审团的决策。本研究考察了陪审员中使用多种语言对陪审团审议的影响。现有的社会心理学文献给出了截然不同的预测。一些研究表明，NES陪审员可能会破坏陪审团的审议；其他研究表明，NES陪审员提高了审议的质量。此外，语言差异（尤其是英语和西班牙语）往往标志着族群之间的差异；因此，纳入新民族陪审员可能会增加或减少对少数民族被告的偏见。在新墨西哥州最高法院的合作下，竞争预测在模拟陪审团研究中被测试，使用陪审团合格的公民。该研究对西班牙语陪审员的缺席或在场情况有所不同，该陪审员需要由专业口译员进行同声传译。其次，该研究比较了大多数盎格鲁人和拉丁裔人的模拟陪审团。研究结果将对美国的陪审团制度产生影响。如果NES陪审员不损害陪审团的决策过程，其他司法管辖区可能会效仿新墨西哥州？年代模型。加入新社区陪审员将确保被告由真正代表其社区的陪审团审判？在新生儿数量较多的州，这是一个重要问题。然而，如果这项研究确定了与纳入NES陪审员相关的问题，新墨西哥州可能会寻求方法来克服陪审团决策过程中的任何缺点。其他司法管辖区可以学习如何最好地包括NES陪审员，如果他们希望这样做的话。

A growing number of American citizens do not know English well enough to serve on a jury, which has implications for a system of justice committed to trial by a jury of peers. New Mexico is the only state where non-English speaking (NES) jurors routinely serve on juries, but no research examines how multiple languages between jurors affect jury decision-making.This research examines the impact of multiple languages among jurors on jury deliberations. Available social-psychological literature allows starkly different predictions. Some research suggests that NES jurors may undermine jury deliberations; other research suggests that NES jurors enhance the quality of deliberations. Further, language differences (esp. English vs. Spanish) tend to mark differences between ethnic groups; thus, inclusion of NES jurors may either increase or reduce biases against minority defendants.With the cooperation of the Supreme Court of New Mexico, competing predictions are tested in a mock jury study using jury-qualified citizens. The study varies the absence or presence of a Spanish-speaking juror who requires simultaneous translation by a professional interpreter. Second, the study compares majority Anglo or Latino mock juries. Research results will have implications for jury systems across the United States. If NES jurors do not compromise the jury decision-making process, other jurisdictions may follow New Mexico?s model. The inclusion of NES jurors would ensure that defendants are tried by a jury truly representing their community?an important issue in states with high NES populations. However, if this research identifies problems associated with the inclusion of NES jurors, New Mexico may seek ways to overcome any shortcomings in jury decision processes. Other jurisdictions may learn how best to include NES jurors, if they desire to do so.