2007-01-25 16:30:12 · 3 answers · asked by Henry M 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
A group of 12 people that couldn't get out of jury duty.
2007-01-25 16:37:45 · answer #1 · answered by columind99 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
That is a group of common people like you and I. The judiciary system requires that an accused be tried, afforded the chance to be decided upon by 6 or 12 people chosen at random.
The accused (the defendant) has the right to choose the commoners as to who should be the jury. Lawyer helps the accused to select. That's the law.
How do they select the commoners? From the property tax rolls. They know you are a resident, paying your taxes. So, the definition goes that you are a "good" citizen.
Very high profile cases get about 300 people to choose from the 12 jury (the grand jury trials). Other types of cases get about 20 or 30 to choose the 6. It all depends on the case, the judge, the public prosecutor etc..
If you get called for jury duty, the law says you cannot say No. You could be charged, fined, improsoned or all of it. There are some exceptions to this rule, of course.
2007-01-26 00:50:13 · answer #2 · answered by Nightrider 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A jury is a group of persons (peers), usually from 6 to 12, that decide on the guilt or innocence of an accused based on their belief or disbelief of the facts presented in a trial proceeding in a court of law.
2007-01-26 00:41:44 · answer #3 · answered by f_l_rivera 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋