Last Updated on August 12, 2021 by
To us, the right to a trial by jury is one of man’s most sacred and natural rights. But it took the man a long time to reach the point where this right was recognized. When the Normans conquered England in 1066, they started a kind of jury. But the men on a jury were not there to listen as witnesses.
They were supposed to decide a case on the basis of their own knowledge of the facts. It was not until the reign of Henry II in the twelftb century that a big change was made. It was decided that the jury must decide a case solely on the evidence heard in court.
And of course, is the whole basis of the trial by jury system we have today. Twelve members of the trial jury listen to the evidence given by witnesses, to the arguments of the lawyers, and to the instructions of the judge. They then retire to a room to decide on their verdict. There scents to be no special reason why the number of jurors is 12, simply that Henry II is so decided and it has been that way since.
Before jury trials, trials were conducted in different ways. One method was “trial by compurgation”. This meant that an accused person brought into court a number of neighbors who were willing to swear that he was innocent.
A second method was “trial by ordeal”. The accused was subjected to all kinds of ordeals, like plunging his hands into burning oil or carry- ing a piece of red-hot iron. If he survived the ordeal, he was declared innocent. A third was “trial by combat”. Here a man had to do battle and defeat his enemy. If he won, he was innocent!
When Was The Jury System Introduced?
Answer- The first trials by civilian juries of 12 in the colony of New South Wales were held in 1824, following a decision of the NSW Supreme Court on 14 October 1824.
What is the reason for trial by jury?
Short Answer- Serving on a jury gives people insight into the justice system and their own communities, and corrects misapprehensions about what takes place in a courtroom. Jury trials educate jurors about the justice system.
Which countries use trial by jury?
Answer- Great Britain, the United States, Canada, Australia.
Which type of jury decides guilt or innocence?
Answer- trial jury decides guilt or innocence at the very end.
Which country has no right to trial by jury?
Answer- Singapore, Pakistan, India, and Malaysia.
