Why is trial by jury important?

Question

Why is trial by jury important?

Answer 1

Because if your guilty you still have a 50% chance of getting off.

Answer 2

Trial by jury is important in order that there are many people who will the decide the case instead on one just like a judge.  More brains is better than one.

Answer 3

In keeping with our government, "of the people, by the people," it is believed that an accused person has the right to judgement by an inpartial group of just regular people.

Answer 4

A trial by your "peers" was unheard of prior to the formation of that clause in the Constitution.

Answer 5

It is the ultimate peaceful use of power of the people over their government.

"If the jury feels the law is unjust, we recognize the undisputed power of the jury to acquit, even if its verdict is contrary to the law as given by a judge, and contrary to the evidence ... and the courts must abide by that decision."

US v Moylan, 4th Circuit Court of Appeals, 1969, 417 F.2d at 1006

Answer 6

I don't know if the jurymethod IS best. The 'more brains is better than one' approach has no effect, because they only form opinions; there is only one jury verdict and many jury members who don't agree can be browbeaten into agreement.

In any case, with more people, you have more people to convince. I would rather have a Judge; some jury members are simpletons and that is much more terrifying than a Judge if you're up for a murder and you aren't guilty.

Answer 7

so you can be tried by your peers 12 good men/women and true who hold no bias and you can be tried as an equel the judge is there to make sure the rule of law applies and the defenddant gets a fair trial

Answer 8

A trial by jury is always the best to go on misdeanors and felonies.  All of the juries have to be convinced of your innocene.  If one juror, thinks you are innocent, then you will be found not guilty.  I always ask for a jury trial because these are regular people just like us who get harrassed by the police.