12 Angry Men
Movie Review: How Prejudice Impacts our Legal System
Kristy Stankiewicz
Dr. Keary Rouff
University of Pittsburgh at Bradford
Prejudice is an unfavorable or favorable “opinion or feeling formed beforehand or without knowledge, thought or reason” (Prejudice, 2013) and although times have changed as people become more accepting in terms of race, same sex marriage, or gender, there appears to be more prejudice in today’s society. Ultimately, prejudice is unavoidable in many people because the simplest thing, such as what someone is wearing can instantly make someone else judge them. Everyone can fall victim to being prejudice, but there are certain levels that can determine whether or not a person is viciously prejudice. In the movie 12 Angry Men, twelve jurors with different personalities and background must decide whether an eighteen year old boy is guilty of killing his father. While some base their opinion on the facts presented in the case, others judge the boy himself because of his race. 12 Angry Men accurately portrays prejudice in the legal system that is still often used in today’s court room. Prejudice within the legal system can either send an innocent person to jail or kill them. In 12 Angry Men, the boy is charged with premeditated murder in the first degree and is considered the most serious charge in the criminal court. However “in order to convict someone in criminal court, the prosecutors must prove beyond reasonable doubt” (Cotton and Wolohan, 2010, p. 6). Race is a prejudice factor that still appears within court rooms today. Throughout the movie 12 Angry Men, two jurors use race as a determining factor to tell whether the accused eighteen year old is guilty or not. Due to the eighteen year olds race, juror number three and ten find him guilty right on the spot. Upon entering the jury room, juror number three says to juror number two “Ya know the thing that always amazes me is how these lawyers can talk and talk
and
Kristy Stankiewicz
Dr. Keary Rouff
University of Pittsburgh at Bradford
Prejudice is an unfavorable or favorable “opinion or feeling formed beforehand or without knowledge, thought or reason” (Prejudice, 2013) and although times have changed as people become more accepting in terms of race, same sex marriage, or gender, there appears to be more prejudice in today’s society. Ultimately, prejudice is unavoidable in many people because the simplest thing, such as what someone is wearing can instantly make someone else judge them. Everyone can fall victim to being prejudice, but there are certain levels that can determine whether or not a person is viciously prejudice. In the movie 12 Angry Men, twelve jurors with different personalities and background must decide whether an eighteen year old boy is guilty of killing his father. While some base their opinion on the facts presented in the case, others judge the boy himself because of his race. 12 Angry Men accurately portrays prejudice in the legal system that is still often used in today’s court room. Prejudice within the legal system can either send an innocent person to jail or kill them. In 12 Angry Men, the boy is charged with premeditated murder in the first degree and is considered the most serious charge in the criminal court. However “in order to convict someone in criminal court, the prosecutors must prove beyond reasonable doubt” (Cotton and Wolohan, 2010, p. 6). Race is a prejudice factor that still appears within court rooms today. Throughout the movie 12 Angry Men, two jurors use race as a determining factor to tell whether the accused eighteen year old is guilty or not. Due to the eighteen year olds race, juror number three and ten find him guilty right on the spot. Upon entering the jury room, juror number three says to juror number two “Ya know the thing that always amazes me is how these lawyers can talk and talk
and
Cited: Cotten, D. J., & Wolohan, J. T. (2010). Law for Recreation and Sport Managers (Fifth ed.). Dubuque, IA: Kendall Hunt. Friedkin, W. (Director). (1997). 12 Angry Men [Motion picture]. United States: MGM Television. Prejudice. (n.d.). Dictionary.com. Retrieved December 1, 2013, from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/prejudice?s=t