Why Is Trial By Jury Important

Trial by jury has been prominent among the United States Judicial System since the medieval times. Originating in medieval England, the jury consists of twelve locals in order to decide the fate of the one being tried. Constitutionally, the government cannot revoke someone’s right to life, liberty, and property until the jury is convinced of one’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The jury is essential in preventing governmental encroachment and ensuring that the rights given by the Constitution are being honored. Thomas Jefferson called the jury “the only anchor ever imaged by man, by which a government can be held to the principles of its constitution.”
The purpose of the jury is basic - decide, based upon factual evidence, one’s guilt or innocence. The verdicts of the jury are supposed to be based solely on evidence, and the …show more content…
The jury system is not only a problem for America, it is also an issue for other countries as well. South Africa abolished juries in 1969 amid fears of racial prejudice. Russia recently abolished juries for terrorism and treason. Britain, the mother of the trial by jury, is now restricting juries due to fraud. Judge Julius Howard Miner observes that “juries are acquitting notorious criminals where the proof clearly indicated their guilt,” this quote is proven correct in cases such as the O.J. Simpson case, and the Casey Anthony case. In both cases, evidence clearly showcased a guilty verdict, but the juries found both defendants not guilty. The act of replacing the jury with a panel of judges has been suggested due to the burden of jury duty upon jurors. These burdens consist for jurors who must miss work for jury duty, as many companies do not compensate for missed time due to jury duty. Any act of abolishing or replacing the jury creates more power for the government, and is unconstitutional, which is why the jury must be preserved but