The jury system, bedrock of common law, has come under some scrutiny recently. First, a little background on juries – because, well, I just find the jury system fascinating – and yes not every country has a jury system, even the big ones.

In Australia, you would have to live under the proverbial rock if you hadn’t heard about the several cases that have been declared mistrials due to a juror’s misconduct. But just in case, there is a good discussion of them here (ABC News). These mistakes are costly in financial terms—jurors can be fined and it costs big bucks to run a trial. Just a few days ago, in South Australia, a juror conducted personal research and a mistrial was declared. A new trial will not occur for at least two years. Despite judges’ explicit warnings, jurors seem uncertain about exactly what isn’t allowed. A 2010 UK study, Are Juries Fair?, revealed only 31% of jurors understood the judge’s oral directions, and 26% admitted they had seen internet information about their trail and 12% had actively sought additional information (The Guardian).

So, with juries taking central stage in television shows, podcasts and media in general – I was fascinated to learn about Fever’s The Jury Experience: An Immersive Courtroom Case. The Jury Experience is a one hour “show” in which an audience is coopted, as the jury, to hear a case. On the stage, actors play the role of judge, lawyers, and witnesses. The audience hear and see the evidence and vote on pertinent issues at various stages of the proceedings terminating, of course, with the final guilty or not vote.

I had a choice between Death by AI: Who Pays the Price or Million-Dollar Murder or Web of Lies. I chose the former because, well it’s AI, and a few months ago the USA ruled on this issue (The Guardian). The show ran smoothly, even the technology worked. The actors were sufficiently hammy to raise a few laughs—and the questions were engaging enough to prompt audience discussion, and topical enough to be relevant. Now this is a ‘jury’ experience and not a ‘legal’ experience – so the aim is thoughtful consideration of a topic rather than application of a legal principle. If you have children considering law, then this could be a fun family outing.

I had a great night. In fact, I’m hoping to attend the Million-Dollar Murder one which starts April 30—this time I’ll take friends. Oh, and don’t forget your phone – it’s essential to participate in the voting system.

The Jury Experience is held in a great venue, The Old Museum; there’s a food truck and bar on site; and it is efficiently run. I recommend that you go in a group – the discussions at each question are part of the immersive experience. All seating has a good view of the stage. Parking isn’t a problem if you are willing to walk a few metres. Fever also offers The Jury Experience in other locations.

The Jury Experience
Brisbane, The Old Museum
6pm; 8pm
60 minutes
12 years and above
Wheelchair accessible