The Jury Is the Audience

In the United States, a trial by jury is a familiar cornerstone of the justice process. In Uzbekistan, however, trials unfold in a different way. In this episode of "The Trial Lawyer's Handbook," litigation attorney Dan Small shares his experience teaching the U.S. trial system in Uzbekistan by walking participants through the fictitious State v. Faulkner case as part of his pro bono work. While working with Uzbek lawyers and judges, Mr. Small broke down how jurors are selected in the U.S., the role they play and how the judge functions as a neutral referee between the defense and prosecution. Through a mock trial, he demonstrated the U.S. system in action, ultimately resulting in a "not guilty" verdict – nearly unheard of in Uzbekistan's legal environment at the time. Listen to the full episode to hear his reflections, key takeaways and the differences between the two countries' judicial systems.