Theme
Juror #8 believes the group has a heavy responsibility because the outcome of their vote could decide whether the young defendant lives or dies. This highlights the serious nature of which civic duty?
Jury Duty
This juror is the protagonist who initially stands alone in voting "not guilty."
Juror #8
What was used ot kill the victim in the murder?
Switchblade knife
How many jurors initially vote "not guilty" in the first ballot?
One
This term refers to the jury's final decision, declaring the defendant either guilty or not guilty.
Verdict
The play employs the process of conversation and critical listening within the jury room to suggest that this is the most effective method for uncovering the truth and ensuring justice.
Dialogue
This juror is the main antagonist, who is loud, aggressive, and has a troubled relationship with his own son.
Juror #3
The prosecution claimed the murder weapon was unique because the shop owner had never seen another one like it. What did Juror #8 do to dispute this?
What does the jury take several votes on, which eventually reveals a growing number of "not guilty" votes?
The guilty of the defendant
This person is the one accused of a crime and standing trial in court.
Defendant
This two-word phrase defines the standard of proof required to convict the defendant, which Juror #8 insists the group must explore.
Reasonable Doubt
This juror, a European watchmaker, criticizes the American-born jurors for their blasé attitudes toward their civic duty, expressing his belief that the jury system is a valuable protection.
Juror #11
The elderly downstairs neighbor testified that the boy yelled "I'm going to kill you!" before the body fell. What detail did the jurors use to discredit this testimony?
The sound of the el train passing by would have drowned out the words.
When the jurors attempt to take a second ballot, Juror #8 makes a proposition: if everyone votes "guilty" unanimously again, he will defer to their judgment. Who changes their vote during this secret ballot?
Juror 9
This legal term means that a jury is not fully convinced of a person's guilt and, therefore, cannot convict them.
Reasonable Doubt
Juror #3's personal anger toward his own son clouds his judgment and prevents him from being impartial, illustrating the danger of this specific personal flaw in the justice system.
Bias
The quiet, polite Juror #2 reveals doubt about the stab wound's angle after conducting this small personal experiment with the switchblade.
Using the knife/testing the angle on Juror #3
The female witness across the street claimed she saw the murder through the windows of the passing El train. What specific detail about her lifestyle ultimately ruined her credibility?
She wore glasses but took them off before she went to bed and forgot to put them back on, so she had poor eyesight.
Juror #3 reaches his breaking point and shouts, "I'm going to kill you!" to Juror #8. This moment directly mirrors the exact words the defendant allegedly said to his father, highlighting this particular piece of evidence's flimsiness. What was the quote?
"I'm going to kill you!"
This is an excuse or evidence a person provides to show they were in a different location when a crime was committed.
Alibi
The watchmaker, Juror #11, discusses the importance of the jury system as a shield against injustice, linking it back to the lack of due process in this historical context that forced him to emigrate.
His European past
Which juror, known for his fastidious nature and attention to facts, changes his vote only after realizing a key witness's poor eyesight meant she likely wasn't wearing her glasses in bed?
Juror #4
What crucial physical characteristic of the body and the murder weapon's angle made Juror #2 question the plausibility of the boy committing the crime in the way described?
The stab wound was downwards/at a downward angle (which would be difficult for the shorter boy to inflict on his taller father).
What specific action by Juror #8 demonstrates that the older man on the first floor could not have reached the door in 15 seconds to identify the fleeing boy?
Re-enacting the walk/timing the walk
This describes a legal decision in which a person is found not guilty of the crime they were accused of committing.
Acquittal