You The Jury

You The Jury is an innovative reality court drama series that aired on FOX in 2017. The show was developed with the ambitious premise of bringing real-life high-stakes civil cases to the television audience and allowing them, as the title suggests, to play the role of the jury, ultimately deciding the outcome of each case.

A distinguishing characteristic of You The Jury is that it doesn’t revolve around scripted drama. Instead, the shows real-life twist transferred the power of decision-making in a variety of civil cases to the audience. The cases are not frivolous or minor; they are weighty issues with compelling arguments to be made on either side. Often, these are cases that have been through the traditional legal system without a resolution satisfactory to both parties.

The structure of You The Jury is relatively simple and familiar— mirroring that of a traditional court case. Each episode begins with a statement of the case by the court reporter, establishing the background, the parties involved, the conflict, and what is at stake. This is followed by the introduction of the litigants who are represented not just by any attorneys, but by some well-known and even infamous ones, including Jose Baez (defendant attorney in the Casey Anthony trial) and Benjamin Crump (family attorney after Trayvon Martin's shooting).

The litigants argue their case in front of a retired judge, LaDoris Cordell, who served for over 19 years as a judge in the Superior Court of California and is the first African-American woman to serve in that capacity in northern California. Judge Cordell maintains decorum in the courtroom, asks clarifying questions, and ensures the arguments remain focused and fair, exactly like any other court trial.

Arguably the most exciting aspect of You The Jury, which is what sets it apart from any other courtroom show on television, is the audience participation. After the closing arguments, American viewers are given the chance to vote, via text messaging or the FOXNOW App, on which side of the case they believe should win. Just as in real-life jury deliberations, there needs to be a significant majority in favor of one party's argument to decide the case. If the majority is not reached within the West Coast voting window, the case remains unresolved.

Another intriguing feature is that because of the live-broadcast format, viewers on the East Coast get the chance to hear the verdict at the end of the show. However, this verdict isn't final— the West Coast viewers get their chance to vote during their broadcast, potentially swinging the verdict, thus showing the impactful role public opinion plays in real-world courtroom proceedings with jury involvement.

Produced by Jeff Apploff, the man behind the 'Beat Shazam' and 'Don't Forget the Lyrics!', You The Jury incorporates elements of reality television, court drama, and viewer interaction to create a show designed to keep audiences glued to their television sets. The show sheds light on sophisticated legal matters while feeding into the viewer's desire for active engagement, blurring the line between legal processes and entertainment by taking the drama from inside a courtroom into the living rooms of viewers.

While there is undeniable entertainment on You The Jury, it also raises numerous questions about justice, about how we comprehend and interact with the law, about the role of the jury, and about the effects of perception and emotional sway on judicial outcomes. In essence, while it may appear broad-based entertainment, it also effectively provokes thoughtful interrogation about the nature of the justice system. At the intersection of reality television and civics, You The Jury attempts to democratize the judicial decision-making process.

In summary, You The Jury is an innovative courtroom drama designed for viewer participation. It's a platform where real civil cases meet interactive reality TV, with real attorneys arguing before a retired judge and leaving the final verdict up to viewers. This amalgamation of justice and entertainment creates fascinating insights into human nature, legal proceedings, and the construct of a jury’s responsibility in effectuating justice.