The Right To Trial By Jury

The right to civil and criminal trials by jury is important to all American individuals, whether they are aware of it or not. The preservation of this right is necessary to ensure that accused individuals receive objective and impartial access to justice in the courtroom.

The benefits of a trial by jury are endless. For those facing judgment, a panel of peers — as opposed to a single judge with no perception of their life or situation in society — is greatly appreciated. Jury trials have proven to be a fair, unbiased system for appropriating justice in the United States. Many judges also agree, “twelve heads are better than one.”

Depending on the case, a trial by jury involves the selection of six or twelve jurors. Prospective jurors are chosen from the public at random and it is then determined if they are qualified to serve on a jury. Things that qualify or disqualify an individual to take part as a juror include citizenship, disability, the ability to understand the English language, and more. The panel of jurors is responsible for hearing the entirety of a trial, examining all evidence, and determining if the accused is innocent or guilty.

Brayton Purcell LLP is committed to preserving this access to justice for all, as well as educating everyday individuals about the importance of their role as jurors in the court room.

Our partners, Gil Purcell and James Nevin, have been selected as members of The American Board of Trial Advocates (San Francisco, California / CAL-ABOTA Chapter). The American Board of Trial Advocates is an organization dedicated to preserving the right to trial by jury in the United States. Find out more about our ABOTA membership on Our Associations and Memberships page.