The Role and Responsibility of the Jury

Juries in America are based on the Constitution’s Sixth Amendment which says, “the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State...” The role and responsibility of juries in society and the United States legal system discussed by the panelists. Prof. Simon called the jury “the best example of participatory democracy.” She said that it is the one time that ordinary citizen becomes directly involved in making important decisions that affect public policy and people’s lives. Unlike voting, where a decision-making representative is selected, when sitting on a jury, the citizens themselves directly make decisions. Mr. Copacino called the jury “the common-sense buffer between the court and the defendants” by bringing in community values, not just the values of the professional legal system. close