The jury is a basic
feature of American democracy. The idea for a jury is
to apply community values in the context of the law.
Our American jury
descended from the mid-12th century. Juries were set at 6 or 12 men who were
considered to have good character.
In 1730, a British
law expanded the qualifications for the jury. Even then, people wanted to get
out of this essential public service. The sheriff was given the task of
impaneling juries, and the pool was increased to include not only people of
wealth but a broader group.
The jury gave the English monarchy and courts legitimacy.
Jurors served as a check against tyranny.
Rod Blagocevich was convicted twice by juries in Illinois on
corruption charges, including lying to the FBI during its criminal probe.
In classic Trumpian
distortion, the president today misrepresented his sentence, labeling it 18
years (it is 14 years). But that lie is small potatoes. The judge who sentenced Blagocevich acted on the juries' processing of evidence (they found Balgocevich guilty on more than 20 corruption related charges). Without the juries' findings of guilt, no sentence could be imposed.
Overriding the judgment of a jury should give everyone,
regardless of party or ideology or cable TV preference, real pause.
Donald
Trump is attacking a vital check on government authority that has been part of
our legal tradition for nearly 1,000 years.
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