The Jury's Still Out

[MsElliott]

The jury took a long time (till past 11pm) to return with their decision. What does this indicate? Include a quote in your answer.

[Cassandra]

I think that because the jury took so long about the decision, when usually it would "only take them a minute", it indiates that maybe the jury was thinking the case through and perhaps picking through the Ewell's lies, figuring out that Toms innocent but convicting him anyway because of society prejudice.

[isabelleewert]

Nov 11, 2015 1:30:06 GMT Cassandra said:

I think that because the jury took so long about the decision, when usually it would "only take them a minute", it indiates that maybe the jury was thinking the case through and perhaps picking through the Ewell's lies, figuring out that Toms innocent but convicting him anyway because of society prejudice.

Yes, I agree that it was the flaws in the Ewell's case that probably caused the jury to deliberate for longer than usual. I also think that the fact that Atticus is so highly regarded in the town, the jury might have actually cared what he had to say about Tom but had to convict him anyway because of the social society. 

[kate Fincham]

Nov 11, 2015 1:30:06 GMT Cassandra said:

I think that because the jury took so long about the decision, when usually it would "only take them a minute", it indiates that maybe the jury was thinking the case through and perhaps picking through the Ewell's lies, figuring out that Toms innocent but convicting him anyway because of society prejudice.

I agree with this answer. I think it shows the subtle changes that are occuring in Maycomb's society, since ten years ago they most likely would have only taken ten minites to decide that Tom Robinson is guilty, even if the only thing he is guilty of is being black

[zoewatson]

Usually the jury of this kind of case will reach a verdict within "a minute". As it took the jury a much longer time, it shows that Maycomb is slightly changing for the better. They must have considered Tom's side of the case otherwise they would not have been trying to make a decsion for as long as what they did

[kayleewilliams]

Nov 11, 2015 1:30:06 GMT Cassandra said:

I think that because the jury took so long about the decision, when usually it would "only take them a minute", it indiates that maybe the jury was thinking the case through and perhaps picking through the Ewell's lies, figuring out that Toms innocent but convicting him anyway because of society prejudice.

I agree. There may have been some who were debating on Tom's side and were protesting against the injustice.

[remimckenzie]

Nov 12, 2015 22:19:26 GMT zoewatson said:

Usually the jury of this kind of case will reach a verdict within "a minute". As it took the jury a much longer time, it shows that Maycomb is slightly changing for the better. They must have considered Tom's side of the case otherwise they would not have been trying to make a decsion for as long as what they did

I think this is a very good point. They probably considered his arguments more than what they were told to, however probably felt obliged to go with the white person as that was what was common within this time. 

[Hope15]

The fact that the jury took longer than "a minute" to agree on a verdict is interesting as it shows how it took longer for them to come to a clear result than most other cases. It also shows how the jury may have known that Tom was innocent, but decided that because of society's established prejudice they would find him guilty. 

[allanaedgell]

Nov 11, 2015 1:09:21 GMT MsElliott said:

The jury took a long time (till past 11pm) to return with their decision. What does this indicate? Include a quote in your answer.

In a normal black vs white case, their would be no reason for the jury to even consider the black mans side. In this case, they took longer than "a minute" and so what Atticus said really stayed in their minds. They considered the opposing side even though it would be against the societies prejudiced views.

[Yor a wizard Harry!! (Ashton)]

Nov 11, 2015 1:09:21 GMT MsElliott said:

The jury took a long time (till past 11pm) to return with their decision. What does this indicate? Include a quote in your answer.

After "a few hours" the jury returned. This was an indicator that perhaps the speech that Atticus produced and delivered with such conviction had tempted the innocence of thought in the juries mind. It may have been possible that the decision had been difficult to make.