God in the Courtroom Religion's Role at Trial [Hardcover]

While the concept of God in the courtroom evokes a few grand images, there are numerous, often subtle, ways in which religion and law intersect. For example, religious beliefs might influence the decisions of legal decision makers, such as judges and jurors. Attorneys might rely on religion, both in the way they approach their professional practice generally and in specific trial tactics (e.g., using a scriptural rationale in arguing for a particular trial outcome). This book reviews legal developments and behavioral science research concerning the effects of religion on legal practice, decision-making processes of various legal actors, and trial outcomes.

Chapters address jury selection and bias, attorneys' use of religion in legal movements, judges' religious beliefs and its role in their appointment, and the treatment of religious figures or institutions as litigants in court. By drawing from various research sources, the authors effectively explore the range of ways in which religion affects the actions of all of the major participants at trial: jurors, judges, attorneys, and litigants.

Chapter 1. Introduction
I. Religion and the Jury
Chapter 2. Religion and the Jury's Composition
Chapter 3. The Relationship between Jurors' Religious Affiliation and Legal Attitudes
Chapter 4. The Relationship between Jurors' Religious Characteristics and Their Legal Attitudes and Decisions
Chaper 5. Religion in Jury Deliberations
II. Religion and Judges, Attorneys, and Litigants
Chapter 6. Judges' Religion
Chapter 7. Attorneys' Religion
Chapter 8. Attorneys' Use of Biblical Appeals
Chapter 9. Religious Figures and Institutions as Litigants
Chapter 10. Conclusion

God in the Courtroom: Religion's Role at Trialis a compendium of religion and law's multivariate interactions....The authors successfully make a case that religious beliefs influence individual trial outcomes and constitutionally at large in areas such asl³g