Final answer:
A slight majority of jurors might vote "guilty" due to overwhelming evidence, influence from public opinion, historical racial biases, implications from the plea bargaining process, and subtle prejudices that persist despite jury selection efforts.
Step-by-step explanation:
There are several factors that might contribute to a slight majority of jurors voting "guilty" in a trial. One significant factor is the evidence presented against the accused; if it appears to be overwhelming, jurors might be more inclined to convict, especially in cases where the standard of proof is "beyond reasonable doubt".
Furthermore, public opinion and media coverage can influence jurors despite efforts to maintain impartiality. In some historical cases, especially those involving racial prejudice and white-majority juries, there have been clear injustices influenced by societal biases rather than solely the facts at hand.
It is also worth considering that the plea bargaining process can affect the likelihood of conviction; defendants often accept plea deals when facing potentially harsher penalties at trial, suggesting that the cases which do go to trial might be those where prosecutors feel confident in their evidence.
Lastly, the jury selection process aims to remove potential biases, but it cannot eliminate all prejudices jurors may hold, which can subtly influence a jury's decision.