What is the scope of the right to a jury trial under the US Constitution?

The right to a jury trial is a fundamental right protected by the US Constitution for criminal and civil cases. This right is limited to the specific types of cases in which the US Constitution applies. In criminal cases, the right to a jury trial is found in Amendments 6 and 7 of the US Constitution. In the US, the Sixth Amendment states that “In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed . . .”. In addition, the Seventh Amendment states that “In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved.” As for civil cases, the Seventh Amendment guarantees the right to a jury trial only in federal court. This right applies in civil cases involving more than $20,000 in which the trial involves a “common law” legal claim. Common law means the law as it was developed in England and the US over hundreds of years and recorded in court opinions. In New York, the right to a jury trial in state court is based on the New York Constitution as well as the Seventh Amendment. According to the New York Civil Practice Law & Rules, a jury trial will be allowed in civil cases if the amount in dispute exceeds $25,000. The scope of the right to a jury trial under the US Constitution is fairly limited, though it still provides important protections to citizens in both criminal and civil cases. In New York, the scope of the right to a jury trial is slightly broader than in other states.

What is the scope of the right to a jury trial under the US Constitution?

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