Is there really such a thing as a jury of your peers?

Question

Is there really such a thing as a jury of your peers?

Answer 1

No, and that's one of the reasons I don't plan on doing anything illegal to be arrested for.  Strange d**n concept, huh?

Answer 2

In a broad sense, yes. The members of a jury may not be exactly like you, but a jury is made up of your fellow citizens, as opposed to being tried by an official who is elected to, appointed to, or even inherits their position. The right to trial by jury was an incredibly important step in the evolution of civil rights. Not only does it make the process fairer by virtue of who is really trying the case (people who can much more easily imagine being in the defendant's shoes than a magistrate) but it also makes it much more difficult to dole out justice in secret.

Answer 3

If so then I would have to be tried be a bunch of angry, gun toting, meat eating, paedophile haters.

Answer 4

Yes they are your peers because they are chosen from good citizens of your own community.

However, if you have ever been a police officer, as I have, or lawyer, as I have not but seen many work, you will soon see that the problem is they know nothing of the law.

Lawyers use this for an advantage because they are less likely to send someone to jail for something they know nothing about.  And when someone has prejudices, mixed with the anxiety of right and wrong, they are more likely to judge on the safe side.

It is a very bad thing in reality to be judged by a jury, unless you are truly guilty.  Because then you stand a greater chance of going free.  In murder you would expect someone to make an easy decision with guilt quick and easy; but it is not, for the person has to make that decision based on little info from the case presented, with hardly any knowledge of law, except from what is seen on tv.  

Answer 5

They ain't your peers anymore!

Answer 6

Not really.  If you are a serial killer, how can you be judged by other serial killers?  A jury of your peers just means a panel of lucid thinking moral human beings.  Not exactly your peers.

Answer 7

The meaning of "peers" is those of similar surroundings.

I once hear a judge tell a career criminal at the start of a trial,

"I would give you a jury of your peers, but I can't find 12 convicted felons willing to come into a courtroom."

Answer 8

not really. I mean, a lot of people serving as jurors are doing it because they couldn't get out of it. i when i was in school, the entire class had to go to see our criminal justice system in action. so, i'm looking at the jury and one guy heard every word or two...i swear. and you want me to believe, the guy on trial had a jury of his peers. you know he didn't.

Answer 9

Yes. Your peers are those who share your approximate status, not people who are exactly identical to you.

Answer 10

having done jury service i can honestly say peers is wrong word, lots of differant age groups & backgrounds & all with thier own predudices