An Essay on the Trial by JuryUnquestionably the most radical treatise ever written on the American jury, examining Magna Carta and a host of other historical sources to sustain the claim that jurors should be chosen from the entire population and be judges of both fact and law . One of the earliest treatises on the subject. Spooner's powerful argument for reform of the jury system holds that jurors should be drawn by lot from the whole body of citizens, and that they should be judges of law as well as of the fact in question. Spooner [1808-1887] was well known for his controversial arguments on political and legal subjects. Spooner maintained that jurors should be drawn by lot from the whole body of citizens, and that they should be judges of law as well as of fact. Contents: The Right of Juries to Judge of the Justice of Laws The Trial by Jury, As Defined by Magna Carta 1. The History of Magna Carta. 2. The Language of Magna Carta Additional Proofs of the Rights and Duties of Juries 1. Weakness of the Regal Authority 2. The Ancient Common Law Juries Were Mere Courts of Conscience 3. The Oaths of Juror. 4. The Right of Jurors to Fix the Sentence 5. The Oaths of Judges 6. The Coronation Oath The Rights and Duties of Juries in Civil Suits Objections Answered Juries of the Present Day Illegal Illegal Judges The Free Administration of Justice The Criminal Intent Moral Considerations for Jurors Authority of Magna Carta Limitations Imposed Upon the Majority by the Trial by Jury Appendix Taxation |
Contents
I The Right of Juries to Judge of the Justice of Laws | 1 |
II The Trial by Jury as Defined by Magna Carta | 18 |
III Additional Proofs of the Rights and Duties of Juries | 52 |
IV The Rights and Duties of Juries in Civil Suits | 120 |
V Objections Answered | 135 |
VI Juries of the Present Day Illegal | 154 |
VII Illegal Judges | 170 |
VIII The Free Administration of Justice | 189 |
IX The Criminal Intent | 195 |
X Moral Considerations of Jurors | 207 |
XI Authority of Magna Carta | 210 |
XII Limitations Imposed upon the Majority by the Trial by Jury | 226 |
AppendixTaxation | 241 |
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Common terms and phrases
according accused act of parliament administration of justice amerced ancient Anglo-Saxon appointed arbitrary assent assizes authority bailiffs barons Blackstone bound called cause chapter of Magna Charter civil suits Coke common law consciences consent constitution coronation county court court-baron court-leet crime customs determine dictate Earl Edward Edward III Edward the Confessor eligible as jurors enacted enforce England English established evidence execution fact fix the sentence freeholders freeman give Henry Henry III hundred court injustice Inst judgment judicial judicium parium suorum jurisdiction jury trials king king's justices kingdom land legem terrae legislative power legislature liberties lord Magna Carta majority manor matters natural law nec super eum oath offences officers oppression parliament party peers person plea principle protection punishment realm reason rendered resistance Saxon says sheriff statute steward sworn thing trial by jury tribunal twelve unjust unless voluntary association whole William the Conqueror words writ