Under English law one is tried by one's peers. When was the last time a peer of the realm was tried by the House of Lords rather than by a normal jury?
2007-03-08 02:52:49 · 2 answers · asked by Duffer 6 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
The last trial of peers in the House of Lords was in 1935, when Lord de Clifford was tried for motor manslaughter. In 1948, the Criminal Justice Act abolished the use of special courts for trials of peers. Now, peers are tried by regular juries.
Before, if the House was not sitting, the case would be referred to the Lord High Steward's Court. The Lord High Steward decided questions of law or procedure and a jury of "Lords Triers" determined the Court's verdict.
Lord Lucan was a vocal supported of the change. His grandson may have found this problematic!
2007-03-09 06:43:06 · answer #1 · answered by Adrian F 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Right. Question is, who ARE your peers? Some clueless people who know nothing about the law and will be swayed by a prosecutor's emotional appeals?
I was on a jury once, got myself elected foreman, and helped get a poor slob off who was about to be railroaded by his ex, with the help of the state of California.
It was all going towards a guilty based on pure stupidity of the guys on the jury. My thoughts made the women go for not guilty and the final outcome was a hung jury, 6 to 6.
That experience scared the sh*t out of me, thinking what type of people have control over the life of one of their 'peers'.
2007-03-08 03:07:08 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋