Abstract:

With the appearance of the media, the relationship between judicature and public opinion is always a problem difficult to settle. The tension and conflict abound between the formal rationality of judicature and the passion of public opinion. By means of juxtaposing fictional plots and historical facts, The Last Juror describes the interaction between judicature and public opinion in a contemporary American town, involving the reflection of the masses’ opinion, the media operation labeled with public opinion, and the jury—the direct judicial intervener originating from the masses and representing public opinion. The open judicial procedures absorb the element of public opinion, displaying vividly the process of integrating public opinion into judicature through multi-role and multi-field interaction. However, it leaves room for tyranny of the majority in judicial procedures, with excessive opening, unprotected judicial procedures, and the invasion of public opinion which is full of passion but lacking in rationality. The paper analyzes the merits and demerits of the interaction between public opinion and judicature in the novel, with the conclusion that public opinion should be allowed to be fully expressed, and there should be effective media for its incorporating into judicature. Besides, public opinion should keep its distance from judicature, and the latter should strengthen its defense system. Only in these ways can their effective interaction be guaranteed.

Keywords: John Grisham; The Last Juror; literature; judicature; public opinion

摘要：

司法与民意的关系始终是媒体出现后一个难解的问题,司法的形式理性与充满激情的民意之间充满着张力和冲突。《最后的陪审员》采取虚构情节与历史事实杂糅的方法描述了发生在当代美国一个县城的司法与民意互动过程：既有群众意见的反映,亦有被贴上民意标签的媒体运作,更有陪审团——这个源自群众、代表民意的直接司法介入者。开放性的司法程序将民意因素容纳,以一幅多角色、多场域互动的生动场面为读者展示了民意融入司法的过程。但过度的开放、不设防的司法程序,以及充满激情、欠缺理性的民意侵入,也为司法环节中的多数人暴政留下间隙。本文以该小说为切入点,分析民意与司法互动的优劣之处,提出民意既要有充分的表达空间及纳入司法的有效载体,又要与司法保持距离,司法也应注重制度防御,方能实现两者的有效互动。

关键词: 约翰•格里森姆;, 《最后的陪审员》, 文学, 司法, 民意