Constitution and Jurrors

Our Constitution contains very significant features that establish the rule of law. Our forefathers created a federal system with a supreme national government and the separation of governmental powers into three branches, that check and balance each other. The constitution is a blueprint of our country that is an amazing document because it has lasted for over 200 years. The Constitution's purpose is to welcome and protect all people of different cultures, skin colors, and to stand up for what we in American society believe in. I will protect my Constitutional Right to a trial by jury by serving as a juror and by exercising my right to vote, in the context of the jury system, as well as in the broader context of electing officials.

"By serving as a juror I represent myself and other people who are committed to maintaining our freedom and democracy, along with our system of justice." (Jacobs, Adele ESQ). By sitting as a juror, I agree to abide by the rules of the law, and the oaths that are presented to me. In doing so, I agree to judge a case based on the evidence that I may hear, and are not any pre-conceived notions of justice or way I think the law is or should be. I also agree to not be afraid to express my opinions during deliberations. If we, as American citizens, that serve as jurors do not go into a trial with any pre-conceived notions, then we secure our Constitutional right to a trial by jury. If we were to go into a trial with pre-conceived notions, then we may as well bypass our right to a trial by jury, and let a judge handle all the matters. "The guarantee of trial by jury is the reason you have been called to serve as a juror." (Westmoreland County)

By coming to Court to serve as a juror, we are protecting our own rights and the rights of those that come after, to trials by jury. We are fortunate enough to have the right to have a trial by a jury of our peers, and if people of all walks of life agree to serve as jurors, then we will be able to maintain our system of justice. " It is critical to the furtherance of our system of justice that the jury system be protected, as it is one of the foundations of our democracy."(Sloane, Gloria Esq) If we did not have jury trials, then all decisions would be made by a judge, and we would not be able to have any confidence of their fairness as they would have their own personal biases. Juries bring differing opinions, and in that way, we can insure that any one person's bias is not influencing the verdict. So even though jurors all have their life experiences, they still have to listen to the law and the facts and make their decisions based upon that.

For example, in the late 1600's during the Salem witch trials, a wide group of people of all races and religions were accused of being witches. Three Judges from Boston had pre-conceived notions that if anyone was accused of being a witch, then they really must be a