In some military courts, 9 judges are appointed. However,

Chapter 4, Problem 47P

(choose chapter or problem)

Get Unlimited Answers
QUESTION:

In some military courts, 9 judges are appointed. However, both the prosecution and the defense attorneys are entitled to a peremptory challenge of any judge, in which case that judge is removed from the case and is not replaced. A defendant is declared guilty if the majority of judges cast votes of guilty, and he or she is declared innocent otherwise. Suppose that when the defendant is, in fact, guilty, each judge will (independently) vote guilty with probability .7, whereas when the defendant is, in fact, innocent, this probability drops to .3.

(a) What is the probability that a guilty defendant is declared guilty when there are

(i) 9,

(ii) 8, and

(iii) 7 judges?

(b) Repeat part (a) for an innocent defendant.

(c)If the prosecuting attorney does not exercise the right to a peremptory challenge of a judge, and if the defense is limited to at most two such challenges, how many challenges should the defense attorney make if he or she is 60 percent certain that the client is guilty?

Questions & Answers

QUESTION:

In some military courts, 9 judges are appointed. However, both the prosecution and the defense attorneys are entitled to a peremptory challenge of any judge, in which case that judge is removed from the case and is not replaced. A defendant is declared guilty if the majority of judges cast votes of guilty, and he or she is declared innocent otherwise. Suppose that when the defendant is, in fact, guilty, each judge will (independently) vote guilty with probability .7, whereas when the defendant is, in fact, innocent, this probability drops to .3.

(a) What is the probability that a guilty defendant is declared guilty when there are

(i) 9,

(ii) 8, and

(iii) 7 judges?

(b) Repeat part (a) for an innocent defendant.

(c)If the prosecuting attorney does not exercise the right to a peremptory challenge of a judge, and if the defense is limited to at most two such challenges, how many challenges should the defense attorney make if he or she is 60 percent certain that the client is guilty?

ANSWER:

Step 1 of 3

Let G be the event that being guilty

And let D be the event that defendant is declared as guilty

a) we have to find the probability that defendant declared guilty when there are 9, 8 and 7 judges

The probability of defendant declared as guilty is \(P(D / G)\)

When there are 9 judges is 

\(\begin{array}{l}
P(D / G)=\sum_{i=5}^{9}\left(\begin{array}{l}
9 \\
i
\end{array}\right)(0.7)^{i}(0.3)^{9-i} \\
\quad \quad \quad \quad=0.1715+0.2668+0.2668+0.1556+0.0404 \\
\quad \quad \quad \quad=0.9011
\end{array}\)

When there are 8 judges is

\(\begin{aligned}
P(D / G) & =\sum_{i=5}^{8}\left(\begin{array}{l}
8 \\
i
\end{array}\right)(0.7)^{i}(0.3)^{8-i} \\
= & 0.2541+0.2965+0.1977+0.0576 \\
= & 0.8059
\end{aligned}\)

When there are 7 judges is

\(\begin{array}{l}
P(D / G)=\sum_{i=4}^{7}\left(\begin{array}{l}
7 \\
i
\end{array}\right)(0.7)^{i}(0.3)^{7-i} \\
\quad \quad \quad \quad =0.2269+0.3177+0.2471+0.0824 \\
\quad \quad \quad \quad =0.8741
\end{array}\)

Add to cart


Study Tools You Might Need

Not The Solution You Need? Search for Your Answer Here:

×

Login

Login or Sign up for access to all of our study tools and educational content!

Forgot password?
Register Now

×

Register

Sign up for access to all content on our site!

Or login if you already have an account

×

Reset password

If you have an active account we’ll send you an e-mail for password recovery

Or login if you have your password back