The 7th Amendment is crucial to the integrity of the judicial process in the United States.
The founding fathers realized the importance of this, so it was included in the Bill of Rights,
some of the most fundamental laws of the land in the United States of America. Without the 7th
Amendment, no jury would be required in civil cases; therefore the judge, a government
employee, has the capability to solely decide the outcome of a civil trial. Although this could
produce a speedy response, it would allow the government to sway cases and decisions in their
own favor, completely ignoring the validity and integrity of the people’s input on the decision.
This would compromise the judicial branch, one of the three branches our government to which
our government was founded. Essentially the entire system of checks and balances would be out
of order, ultimately compromising the federal government. As we all know very well,
compromise of the federal government would be a compromise of the United States, an absolute
worst case scenario not only for its citizens, but also the world. The goal of the judicial system in
the United States is to serve justice where justice is needed, and without a jury I believe that
there are too many outside elements whether it be bribery, blackmail, or any other sources of
corruption that could have a major effect on a judicial decision. Granted, even with a jury,
corruption occurs. People do not always remain open-minded, but with twelve people on a jury,
it allows for up to five people to believe that someone is incorrectly guilty/not guilty, and not be
the deciding factor as majority rules in a jury. Additionally, the 7th Amendment and the right to
a jury allows the people to make the decision on the conviction of their fellow citizen.
Nevertheless, this process is not full proof, and there are instances of mistakes made by juries,
but the probability that the majority of twelve people come to an incorrect ruling is infinitely
lower than one government official coming the the wrong decision. The United States was
founded on the idea that the people should be in control, not the government, and allowing the
people to decide, coincides with that principle idea. Without the right to a jury, Americans are
giving away their right to rule and run their nation. This not only conflicts with our founding
fathers aim for America, it conflicts with the very fundamental basis of Democracy.
I have been fortunate enough to never have to be tried in front of a jury and I hope that I
never will, but that does not garnish the importance of the 7th Amendment. A couple years ago,
my cousin was wrongly accused in a copyright case. This case, being a civil case fell directly
under the 7th Amendment and my cousin had a right to a jury. My cousin exercised his right to a
jury, which played a crucial role in the case. Ultimately the jury decided he was not guilty. This
was the first time a jury had made an actual direct impact on my life, and it made me truly realize
the importance of a jury. A jury is the closest thing that we, the citizens of the United States, have
to obtain an impartial and unbiased decision process in the court of law. I feel without a jury,
there would be widespread corruption in the judicial system, with decisions being effected by the
government’s interests. In my opinion, all cases, whether criminal or civil, must have a jury
because each ruling no matter how significant or insignificant it may appear can and does play a
huge role in the accused’s life. A judge alone making as decision concerns me as the government
already plays a huge role in our lives and giving the government complete power to rule a certain
way in a hearing could be the tipping point on the integrity of the court system. Without integrity,
our court system is no longer a court system and just a shell of its previous self. Hearing the idea
of no jury, bring thoughts of a monarchy that our predecessors fought so hard to gain freedom
from, or even communism that the United States has pushed so hard to contain and destroy.
I believe that a jury is the most important part of our justice system, and a United States
without the right to a jury would fail to exist. Juries provide the people’s opinion in a nation built
behind them. The 7th Amendment secures the right to a jury in a civil case, therefore securing
continued democracy in the United States, and without that right we would fail to be the great
nation that our Founding Fathers fought so hard to create.