--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A jury is always a more orthodox body…" description: "\"“A jury is always a more orthodox body than any defendant brought before it; for blacks it is usually a whiter group, for poor people, a more prosperou..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab1/howard-zinn-576_criminal-justice-sys_a-jury-is-always-a-more-orthodox-body-th_1447147.jpg" --- # A jury is always a more orthodox body than any defendant… ![“A jury is always a more orthodox body than any defendant brought before it; for blacks it is usually a whiter group, for poor people, a more prosperous group... Another lesson about the justice system: the way the judge charges the jury inevitably pushes them one way or the other, limits their…” quote by Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab1/howard-zinn-576_criminal-justice-sys_a-jury-is-always-a-more-orthodox-body-th_1447147.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab1/howard-zinn-576_criminal-justice-sys_a-jury-is-always-a-more-orthodox-body-th_1447147.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab1/howard-zinn-576_criminal-justice-sys_a-jury-is-always-a-more-orthodox-body-th_1447147.jpg) > ““A jury is always a more orthodox body than any defendant brought before it; for blacks it is usually a whiter group, for poor people, a more prosperous group... Another lesson about the justice system: the way the judge charges the jury inevitably pushes them one way or the other, limits their independent judgment.”” [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Juries tend to reflect societal biases, and judges’ instructions can further sway verdicts, limiting true impartiality. **In simple terms:** Juries are influenced by bias and judicial direction. Key Takeaway Be aware of systemic bias in legal processes. Themes justice bias legal system Mood critical analytical Type critical educational When to use this quote - court trials - policy reform - public awareness - legal education Key Concepts juror composition judicial influence Questions to Reflect On - What steps can reduce bias in juries? - How should judges frame instructions? A Different Perspective Legal outcomes are also shaped by power dynamics beyond evidence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Criminal justice system](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criminal-justice-system/) [Impartiality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impartiality/) [Judicial power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judicial-power/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Justice system](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice-system/) [Orthodoxy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/orthodoxy/) [Poor people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor-people/) ## Related quotes > [“On behalf of the deference under the Administrative Procedure Act, it is said that Congress is not constitutionally barred from authorizing deference—as if Congress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-hamburger/on-behalf-of-the-deference-under-the-administrative-procedure-act-it/) [Philip Hamburger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-hamburger/) > [The truest test of independent judgment is being able to dislike someone who admires us, and to admire someone who dislikes us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/the-truest-test-of-independent-judgment-is-being-able-to-dislike/) [Sydney J. 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