Why is juror 9 important?
Asked by: Dr. Liliana Hoeger MD | Last update: February 18, 2026Score: 4.9/5 (57 votes)
In 12 Angry Men, Juror 9 is crucial because he's the first to support Juror 8, bravely changing his "guilty" vote to "not guilty" out of respect and to allow for debate, and his empathy for the elderly witness reveals a key flaw in the prosecution's case, demonstrating how his own feelings of insignificance drive his pursuit of justice and challenge prejudice.
What does juror 9 do in 12 Angry Men?
Juror 9 demonstrates moral clarity by recognizing the danger in Juror 10's prejudiced statements. He becomes the first to support Juror 8's not-guilty vote, saying "He gambled for support, and I gave it to him." His keen observations prove vital to the case: He empathizes with the elderly witness's need for recognition.
Why did juror 9 change his vote?
Juror 9 is the first of the remaining eleven jurors to change his vote after the initial one. He does this, not because he has changed his mind, but to give support to Juror 8.
Who is the most important juror in 12 Angry Men?
Juror 8 is the protagonist of Reginald Rose's "12 Angry Men." He is a peaceful and compassionate man who is dedicated to finding the truth. He is the only juror to vote not guilty at the beginning of the deliberation, as he wanted to discuss the case before making a decision.
How is juror 9 biased?
This text explains that this juror is biased towards all teenagers who rebel and who act tough. So, he just generalizes his personal experience and lets this logic influence his thinking about the slum kid. He uses the actions of his son towards him as an anchor around which his arguments revolve.
12 Angry Men - Ending Explained
What is the personality of Juror 9?
Juror #9: A mild, gently old man, long since defeated by life, and now merely waiting to die, Juror #9 recognizes himself for what he is and mourns the days when it would have been possible to be courageous.
Which Juror was racist in 12 Angry Men?
In 12 Angry Men, Juror 10 is a racist bigot who owns several garages that he wants to get back to. He sees the defendant as a symbol of his ethnic group and sees the need to prevent incursion from that ethnic group into "civilized" society.
Is Juror #1 the foreman?
Juror 1 (Foreman): A small, petty man who is impressed with the authority he has and handles himself quite formally. He is not overly bright but is determined to do his job as foreman.
Is juror 7 racist?
Juror 7 is also shown to be ethnocentric and xenophobic when he insults the immigrant Juror 11. When Juror 7 switches his vote to "Not guilty" because he had enough of the constant arguing, the immigrant Juror 11 gets mad and berates Juror 7, telling him that he has no right to play like this with the man's life.
Which juror was the last one to change his vote?
Understand Juror 3 in 12 Angry Men by Reginald Rose. Learn via quotes and analysis why Juror 3 is last to change his vote after he bullies and belittles others.
Who was the last person to vote not guilty in 12 Angry Men?
In the 1957 film 12 Angry Men, initially juror #8 is the only juror to vote not guilty. By the end of the film, every single juror, who originally voted guilty, has changed his vote to not guilty. Juror #3 is the last juror to change his vote.
Why does juror 10 vote not guilty?
Juror no. 10 decided that he would have to vote to acquit the minority defendant, not because he was tolerant, but because otherwise he would face ostracism from the white jurors.
What does juror 9 say about the old man?
9th JUROR: […] I think I know him better than anyone here. This is a quiet, frightened, insignificant old man who has been nothing all his life, who has never had recognition, his name in the newspapers. Nobody knows him, nobody quotes him, nobody seeks his advice after seventy-five years.
Was the boy actually guilty in 12 Angry Men?
In the 1957 film 12 Angry Men, the boy on trial (his name is never stated) has been charged with murdering his own father. The verdict changes from 11 guilty and 1 not guilty at the beginning of the film to 12 not guilty at the end of the film? But the film never actually reveals whether the kid is guilty or not.
What is juror #1 called?
Non-confrontational, Juror #1 serves as the foreman of the jury. He is serious about his authoritative role and wants to be as fair as possible.
Why did juror 3 cry at the end?
Juror 3 cried at the end of 12 Angry Men because he finally recognized he was projecting his own painful, estranged relationship with his son onto the defendant, a realization that broke his stubborn anger, leading him to tear up a photo of his son and change his vote to "not guilty". He saw his own unresolved feelings of bitterness and disappointment, driving his vengeful insistence on guilt, and his breakdown signified his painful acceptance that he had been wrong and unfair, not just to the defendant but to himself and his son.
Why is jury duty so exhausting?
It is possible you were asked to hear graphic testimony or review graphic evidence or images, and people react differently to being exposed to such materials. Additionally, to be affected by crime and violence can be very unsettling, even when the crime is not directed against you personally.
Was juror #2 good?
A decent judicial thriller from Clint Eastwood with drama, intrigue, tension and plot twists. While serving as a juror in a high-profile murder trial, a family man finds himself struggling with a serious moral dilemma, one he could use to sway the jury verdict and potentially convict or free the wrong killer.
Why did juror 9 change his vote to not guilty?
Juror 9 changes his vote, saying, “It's not easy to stand alone against the ridicule of others.” He respects Juror 8's motives to give the defendant a fair shot, and though he thinks the defendant is likely guilty, votes to continue the debate.
Is juror 1 always the foreman?
Under our law, the first juror selected is known as the foreperson. During deliberations, the foreperson's opinion and vote are not entitled to any more importance than that of any other juror. [What we ask the foreperson to do during deliberations is to sign any written note that the jury sends to the court.
Is juror 5 from the slums?
12 Angry Men: Juror 5 Analysis
Juror 5's revelation that he grew up in a slum forces the other jurors to reckon with the assumptions they have made about the defendant. From that point on, Juror 5's very presence in the room keeps the other jurors accountable for their racist, classist attitudes.
Who is Juror 9 in 12 Angry Men?
12 Angry Men (1957) - Joseph Sweeney as Juror 9 - IMDb.
Who was Juror 10 racist against?
Juror 10 is a man of extreme prejudice and ignorance. From the start of the film, he speaks of the defendant boy in racist stereotypes, even assigning a number of negative and derogatory characteristics of the boy.
Which juror was the best in 12 Angry Men?
Juror #8 was just one man among twelve. He proved influential through his reasoning, say Kassin and Wrightsman. There was no undue or improper influence. Fonda "managed to convert his peers through a series of rational and persuasive arguments concerning the quality of the state's evidence."