Bibliograph

The Seventh Amendment, the right to a jury trial, Kathy Furgang

Type

Label

The Seventh Amendment, the right to a jury trial, Kathy Furgang

Language

eng

Index

no index present

Literary Form

non fiction

Main title

The Seventh Amendment

Nature of contents

dictionaries

Responsibility statement

Kathy Furgang

Series statement

Amendments to the United States Constitution : the Bill of Rights

Sub title

the right to a jury trial

Summary

While jury trials in criminal cases are recognized as vitally important to safeguarding the Constitutional rights of the accused, the right to a jury trial in civil cases is a less understood, celebrated, and valued right. This book is an invaluable reminder of just how important the Seventh Amendment is to the promotion and preservation of fairness and justice in America. By entrusting a jury of ordinary and impartial citizens to decide the outcome of lawsuits, the framers of the Constitution and Bill of Rights removed the power from the judges, who could potentially be swayed and corrupted. The Seventh Amendment levels the playing field, guaranteeing that a citizen's voice and interests carry as much weight as that of a wealthy individual, major corporation, or powerful government. The historical context that motivated the drafting and passage of this amendment is discussed, as is the evolution of civil law, jury trials, and the application of the Seventh Amendment in American history, from colonial times to the present. Contemporary, straight from the headlines cases-including Toyota's recent woes-illustrate the relevance of the Seventh Amendment and its application to cases involving consumer protection, environmental cleanup, medical malpractice, and corporate wrongdoing

Target audience

adult

Classification