In that same system of government, the King can accuse you of a crime, then he alone can decide whether you are guilty. In that system, your freedom, your life, and your property depend on whether this one person is just and honest, or corrupt and biased. The injustice of such a system is what the American Colonists faced every day. It is what the Colonists went to war with England to end. And, to ensure no American would ever have to face an oppressive government without recourse, the framers included the right to a trial by jury in two separate Amendments to the Constitution.
The 6 th and 7 th Amendments. On the issue of trial by jury, Thomas Jefferson said:. Think about that. The man who wrote the Declaration of Independence called a trial by jury the ONLY way he could imagine to force a government to play by the rules.
But, we risk losing these protections if people treat jury duty as a burden instead of a privilege. Where else can we achieve so many of our democratic values in one go? Participation, deliberation, fairness, equality, accountability, liberty, and the common good are all embedded in jury service.
Jurors get involved in some of the most personal, sensational, and important events happening in their community. In addition, jury service helps people to hone their self-governing skills. Jurors act just like elected officials. They are required to debate issues, listen to others, and consider dissenting opinions. Jurors are required to understand the law, the rights of the parties, and the legal rules guiding their decision.
A successful democracy needs citizens with these skills. Deliberation, debate, tolerance, cooperation, civility, legal decision making are the bedrock of self-governance. So, the next time you get a notice for jury service please be excited.
The people of America rely upon jurors for the protection of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. As a juror, you will play an important role in the American system of justice. You do not need any special skills or legal knowledge to be a juror. Potential jurors are men and women of good judgment, honesty, and objectivity. The juror needs to keep an open mind and be willing to make decisions free of personal opinions and prejudices.
Your public service as a juror protects our Constitutional right to have a trial by an impartial jury. The protection of our rights and liberties is accomplished through the teamwork of judge and jury, who, working together in a mutual effort, put into practice the principles of our heritage of freedom. In a very important way, jurors become a part of the court itself.
The most common complaint about jury duty is the unexplained time presumably wasted while jurors wait in the Jury Assembly Center. What you may not realize is that your very presence in the Jury Assembly Center ensures that cases are expedited. Without jurors present, cases will be continued or dismissed instead of being resolved. What might appear to be a waste of time to you is actually time being used by the judge and attorneys working on matters that must be taken care of outside the presence of the jurors.
In reaching its verdict in a criminal trial , the jury must be satisfied that the person is guilty beyond reasonable doubt. Beyond reasonable doubt means that if there are two reasons given in the case and both are possible explanations for what happened, taken together with the evidence presented, the jury should give the person the benefit of the doubt and decide on a verdict of not guilty.
If the case is a civil one, the jury must be satisfied with its verdict on the balance of probabilities. It is not necessary that a jury be unanimous in its verdict. In a criminal case, a verdict need not be unanimous where there are not fewer than 11 jurors if 10 of them agree on a verdict after considering the case for a reasonable time not less than two hours. In a civil trial, a verdict may be reached by a majority of 9 of the 12 members.
When the jury has reached its decision, it will return to the court and the verdict will be read out by the foreman or forewoman. The jury has no role in sentencing. This decision is left up to the judge following submissions made by both sides.
Under current public health restrictions , court business has been reduced. You can access the latest announcements on court sittings on the Courts Service website. If you have a question about this topic you can contact the Citizens Information Phone Service on 07 Monday to Friday, 9am to 8pm. You can also contact your local Citizens Information Centre or Request a call back from an information officer.
Information The jury fulfils a very important function in the legal system. The verdict At the conclusion of the trial, the jurors are given an issue paper, which states the issues that the jury must consider in reaching its verdict.
Rules Jurors must: Decide the facts of the case only.
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