Module 05 · justice

Before you give a verdict, you must know the case

A real case from a hundred and thirty years ago. The file, the check, the weight, the verdict, and how a thousand judges voted.

Your cases

judge ID-7f3a9

You judge under an identifier. You step in because you want to; both sides are anonymous.

Step 1The case file

Step 2Comprehension check

Step 3Weight and verdict

Step 4The verdict and history

The file: France, 1894–1898, Captain Alfred Dreyfus

read 0 of 7

Open them one by one. The check asks about things that have to be joined up between documents.

A check on how well you know the case

result: —

Below, the opening of a real verification conversation, then eight questions to click through.

The verifying AIWhere did the suspicion against Captain Dreyfus come from in the first place?

YouFrom a note fished out of a wastepaper basket at the German embassy. Somebody was offering the Germans military documents.

AIGood. That note carries no signature. So what led from it to one particular man?

YouThe handwriting. A comparison of the handwriting.

AIWere the experts agreed?

YouNo. The expert of the Bank of France said it was not his hand. Bertillon said it was, but explained the differences by saying Dreyfus had deliberately altered his own writing.

AILet us stay with that. If the similarities prove guilt and the differences prove guilt too, then what could ever prove innocence? Answer in your own words.

After each answer, the question shows why, and which document says so. The result is the D in the formula for the weight of your vote.

Your weight in this case, and your verdict

The same formula as in a vote, but D means something else here.

Knowledge of the case, D (from the check)— Honesty, E (from your profile)— The weight of your vote, W— Maximum (D=100%, E=1)10 000 The minimum threshold for judging at allD ≥ 30% (a parameter)

The question put to the panel

Is the evidence in the file enough to find Captain Dreyfus guilty of treason?

Not enough. Acquit.The only physical evidence is the handwriting, the experts are divided, the secret file never proves that “D.” means Dreyfus, and another hand matches better. Enough. Guilty.If you choose guilt, you set the penalty within the range the whole society set beforehand.

Your reasons (public to everyone, without your name; at least 80 characters) 0 / 80

The verdict in the Dreyfus case

waiting for your vote