Introduction to
Twelve Angry Men
ENG 3C1
Agenda:
Historical Context: Live Television Drama in
the 1950s
 Author: Reginald Rose
 History on Twelve Angry Men
 How is the Law Involved?
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History of Criminal Law
Selection of a Jury
Function of a Jury
Law of Evidence
Setting the Stage: Responsibility
Historical Context1:
Live Television Drama in
the 1950s
The decade of the1950s is
known for its live dramas that
were broadcast on television;
known as the “golden area of
television”;
 During this period, television
replaced radio and film as the
primary entertainment for
society
 Live drama died out in the
1960s because new
technology enabled
productions to be filmed

1 Prestwick House: http://www.enotes.com/twelve-angry-men-prestwick-tu/
Author: Reginald Rose1
Born on December 10, 1920 in New York City
 During WWII he served in the US army, ending his
career as a first lieutenant
 After the war he worked as a clerk, publically writing for
Warner Brothers Pictures, writing short stories and
novels
 He became a regular writer for CBS’s Studio One, a
weekly show that produced live drama
 In that same year he wrote Twelve Angry Men, his most
popular work to date, that was broadcasted on
September 20, 1954

1 Prestwick House: http://www.enotes.com/twelve-angry-men-prestwick-tu/
History on
Twelve Angry Men

The play was inspired by Rose’s experience of
jury service

The 12 “Angry Men” are the individuals that
make up a trial jury for the purposes of hearing
a legal case and interpreting the facts, and
finally returning with a verdict of either guilty or
not guilty for the accused
History of Criminal Law

1
Early Juries
◦ Trial by jury was brought to England in the mid 11th Century
(1066)
◦ In Medieval Europe, trials were usually decided by ordeals,
where it was believed that God intervened, “revealing the
wrongdoer and upholding the righteous”1
 i.e. Ordeal by Water: the person who was accused was “tested” in
water. If the accused floated then it meant he/she was guilty
(surfacing to be punished), and if the accused sank, it meant that
he/she was innocent…
◦ In 1215, the Catholic Church decided that truth by ordeal was
merely superstitious, and they needed a more credible system
1http://moscow.usembassy.gov/root/pdfs/twelve-angry-men.pdf
Early Juries
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1
cont’d
The first jury was made up of local people who were
expected to know the defendant
Jurors were to “say the truth” (nowadays it is called
“deliberating toward a verdict”)
By the 14th Century, the role of the jury finally became
that of judgment by evidence
By the 15th Century, trial by jury became the dominant
mode of resolving legal issues, and it was not until
centuries later that the jury assumed a more modern
role of deciding on facts on that which is heard in a
court of law
1http://moscow.usembassy.gov/root/pdfs/twelve-angry-men.pdf
Selection of a Jury
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1
A large group of citizens are called to appear before the court for
jury duty (usually receiving a letter in the mail)
Each province and state (both Canada and USA) has its own
qualifications for those who may be eligible to serve on a jury
Universally, jurors must be:
◦ citizens of that nation
◦ be local residents (i.e. an Ontario resident will most likely not be called out to
P.E.I. for jury duty)
◦ of majority age,
◦ of approved integrity (others must vouch for the “character” of that individual)

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Both the prosecution and the defense examine the jurors to
determine whether cause for challenge in any particular case exists
There are many disqualifications and exemptions from being a
juror, which you will explore in an activity shortly
1http://moscow.usembassy.gov/root/pdfs/twelve-angry-men.pdf
Function of a Jury
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1
Whether evidence is properly admissible or not (allowed or not) is
a question for the court, but the weight and credibility of that
evidence is determined by the jury
After the evidence has been presented, the two counsels, first the
prosecution then the defense, “sum up” their arguments in a
manner that is favourable to their own side
The judge makes a charge to the jury about the rules of law
applicable in that particular case and sends them off to deliberate
Juries deliberate (consider and talk out the facts, arguments,
testimony, evidence) until they reach an agreement (unanimous in
criminal trial) and return to the court with a verdict as to the guilt
or innocence of the defendant
1http://moscow.usembassy.gov/root/pdfs/twelve-angry-men.pdf
Law of Evidence1

Burden of Proof
◦ Burden of producing evidence beyond all
reasonable doubt (persuading the jury to
believe) rests with the prosecution to prove
guilt
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Relevance
◦ Evidence is relevant when it has a tendency to
prove or disprove disputed facts
 i.e. eyewitness testimony is relevant because it can
prove an event happened
1http://moscow.usembassy.gov/root/pdfs/twelve-angry-men.pdf
Law of Evidence1 cont’d

Hearsay
◦ Statements made outside of court by
someone who is not present to testify under
oath at trial
 One reason for excluding this evidence is because
cross-examination can’t occur, which is the
opportunity for one side to ask questions to that
witness in hopes of refuting his/her
information/credibility
1http://moscow.usembassy.gov/root/pdfs/twelve-angry-men.pdf
Law of Evidence1 cont’d

Witnesses
◦ Nearly all persons with knowledge relevant to
the case can testify
◦ Expert witnesses can also be called on, which
are experts in their field of work and can
interpret findings, examine situations,
forensics, etc.
 i.e. psychologist, medical doctor, coroner
1http://moscow.usembassy.gov/root/pdfs/twelve-angry-men.pdf
About the Play
The play deals with the sensitive issues of
prejudice and racism, relying heavily on the
portrayal of stereotypes
 You must be alerted to the fact that the views
of the jurors, as improper as they are (mid 20th
Century), did influence the jury
system/decisions for many years
 This controversy emphasizes the play’s
important theme of justice prevailing, even if
one person stands up for what is right

Setting the Stage
The Charge to the Jury: Responsibility