The jury trials began with King Henry 2 who ruled England from 1154 to 1159. Did the American colonies feel that this right was also important?

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The jury trials began with King Henry 2 who ruled England from 1154 to 1159. Did the American colonies feel that this right was also important?
How America Started Using Juries With Lay People In The First Place
The jury trial likely began with King Henry II, who ruled England from 1154 to 1159. The king often assembled
panels of 12 "free and lawful men"to settle land disputes, according to a history of the jury put out by the
American Bar Association.
Eventually, the ABA said, "Early English juries came to be seen as a protector of the accused against the very
harsh criminal laws of the day."
When colonists came to America, however, Britain set up special trials that didn't have juries. The lack of a jury
trial bothered the colonists. In the Declaration of Independence, those colonists accused Britain of tyranny "for
depriving us, in many cases of the benefits of Trial by Jury."
The founders obviously thought this right was important and decided to enshrine (preserve) it in the Sixth
Amendment of the Constitution, which reads:
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial (fair)
jury of the State and district when the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously
ascertained (made sure) by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted
with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory (required by law) process for obtaining witnesses in his favor,
and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defense.
Transcribed Image Text:How America Started Using Juries With Lay People In The First Place The jury trial likely began with King Henry II, who ruled England from 1154 to 1159. The king often assembled panels of 12 "free and lawful men"to settle land disputes, according to a history of the jury put out by the American Bar Association. Eventually, the ABA said, "Early English juries came to be seen as a protector of the accused against the very harsh criminal laws of the day." When colonists came to America, however, Britain set up special trials that didn't have juries. The lack of a jury trial bothered the colonists. In the Declaration of Independence, those colonists accused Britain of tyranny "for depriving us, in many cases of the benefits of Trial by Jury." The founders obviously thought this right was important and decided to enshrine (preserve) it in the Sixth Amendment of the Constitution, which reads: In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial (fair) jury of the State and district when the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained (made sure) by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory (required by law) process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defense.
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