Local Meeting - Saturday 4th October 2025

Saturday 4th October anytime from 10 am

The Sea Shanty, Branscombe Beach

Free

Ping me a quick email if you're intending to be there so I can have some idea of numbers! :-)
[email protected]

Subject Matter at the Meeting:

It’s been short notice, partly because I’ve had internet issues! But it would be great for the meetings this week if people started to take a look at the arguments surrounding the positivity of jury participation and alchemical effect that is experienced by participants. This is a critical concept as understanding this provides a counter narrative to those who would try to argue that because people are ‘flawed’ psychically, emotionally and morally (and they are), there is nevertheless something deeply positive that occurs in the deliberation process. This has been shows and demonstrated in academic research and memoirs alike.

So a few places to begin looking:

Have a look in my quotes page here: https://www.commonlawconstitution.org/resources/useful-quotations-in-support-of-the-constitution-and-trial-by-jury?c=learning

In particular look for Alexis de Tocqueville

Have a re-watch of the documentary found here:
https://www.commonlawconstitution.org/resources/compulsory-viewing-documentary-on-jury-nullification?c=learning

The academic research of Cheryl Thomas KC - which is mentioned in…

LJH’s dissertation to be found here:
https://www.commonlawconstitution.org/resources/alchemy-and-annulment-the-power-of-the-jury-as-portrayed-in-popular-culture?c=essays-and-articles

Download it. (Basically perform a ‘find’ (Apple + F or Control + F) in the document for terms like ‘Thomas’, ‘Cheryl’ etc. and ‘Alchemy’. Or even ‘Civic’

Take a look at Gastel and Weiser - google it and see if you can find any quotations. This work is also referenced in LJH’s dissertation mentioned above. This might be a useful link!…
https://www.jstor.org/stable/2691863

Find a quotation, reference or interesting claim/concept and share with us at the group!