In the case of the Zimmerman trial I am not following it. I like everybody else see the headlines but it doesn’t generally interest me.
What did interest me, was why just six jurors. We all know the common practice of 12 jurors, many of us had to read the play “12 Angry Men” or at least watch a production of it while going through school.
The text of the Sixth Amendment follows.
“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, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence”
By the text of the Constitution there is no actual requirement on size.
Florida law requires a jury of 12 peers only in cases of a captial crime. For all others the jury will consist of only 6 jurors.
This law was contested and held up by the Supreme Court of the United States in 1970 (Williams Vs. Florida).
Since Mr. Zimmerman is not being charged with a capital crime and is instead facing the charges of manslaughter, third degree murder, and child abuse, non of which is a capital offencse he thereby falls under the rule of Florida’s 6 man jury system.
Update: For the Record I am so disinterested in this case that I didn’t even know there were only Six Jurors until my wife asked me a question about it just last night.
-BrotherLeRoy
