What Is the Right to a Trial by Jury?

The Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects people who have been accused of crimes. It ensures American citizens can receive a “speedy and public trial . . . by an impartial jury.” It also ensures that trials will be held in the state in which the alleged crime occurred. Perhaps most significant, the Sixth Amendment says people have a right to a lawyer, even if they can’t afford it. The Seventh Amendment extends the right to a trial by jury to federal civil cases. Inside this volu...