why does a jury consist of 12 members?

Answer 1

In English Common Law, there are 12 members on a jury. It follows religious tenets, where there are 12 apostles, 12 houses of the zodiac, and other 12 based numerology in all types of faiths.

It's a shame that the answer is superstiton, isn't it?

Answer 2

Unfortunately, it is a historical accident and the powerful inertia of tradition. Richard Dawkins has written an interesting essay, published in his book: "The Devils Advocate", that discusses how uncritical we have been in the development of such an important social institution. There hasn't been any scientific investigation into what kind of jury was most likely to come to correct conclusions, it has just always been the way it is.

Here is an excerpt from "Exploring Constitutional Conflicts"


The expectation that a jury consists of 12 members dated back to the 1300s, but the Court found that to be a "historical accident." Concluding that a six-person jury could fulfill the framers' expectations concerning a jury's functions just as well as a 12-person jury, the Court rejected its prior words on the subject and held that six-person juries satisfy the requirements of the Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments. Justice Harlan harshly criticized the majority's reasoning, asking where and how the Court might draw the line on jury size. Would a three-person jury be okay, he wondered?


Interestingly the assumption that Juries must rule unanimously is also based on tradition, and is has not been practiced by all states. Oregon had a 10-2 requirement and Lousiana had an 11-3 requirement.

Perhaps someday our society will take justice more seriously than it currently does. When that happens we can look forward to having a court system based on a scientific investigation into what will provide the highest probability of convicting the guilty and exonerating the innocent. Until that time, hope you never find yourself in the position of having to role the dice with the current system.

CR

Answer 3

Number 12 is from the Christian beliefs of 12 good men (Judas excluded). But it can be any number.

Answer 4

I pass, I suggest you ask the jury

Answer 5

12 disciples

Answer 6

I don`t know exactly, but I would sugest it could have had something to do with the astrology, archetypes, cosmic law. I pass.

Answer 7

it's an ancient "holy" number, like 7 and 13.

Answer 8

It has to have some number, what is wrong with twelve.

Answer 9

i dont know