New jury 
systems are emerging in different parts of the world, and while some have been reluctant to hand out “not guilty” verdicts (I’m looking at you, Japan), the new jury process in Buenos Aires reached such a decision at the close of that city’s first jury trial.
The details on that case are relayed by FoxNews-Latino, which provides an English-language summary of the case. The research we conducted found that most American jurors experience strong emotions during trials, and the Buenos Aires jury had the same reaction:
The presiding judge’s voice broke with emotion many times on Thursday, and some members of the 12 person jury cried when they saw the relatives of the defendant crying when they heard the verdict.
Colleagues in Argentina who study the jury also felt overcome with emotion, as they relayed in emails to me this past week. The emotion reflected both the gravity of the trial and the historic nature of the jury. Argentina’s constitution has always made possible jury trials, but their arrival has come only in the past two years. That this one was in Buenos Aires made it special.
For a full accounting of the trial, a concise report has been compiled by AAJJ–an organization that promotes jury trials in Argentina.
One last detail: Take a look at the picture of the jurors posing with the judge in the jury box. Notice anything that would not appear in a U.S. courtroom? Can’t find it? Look at the wall behind the jurors.
Jury and Democracy Blog 