Vermont Constitution Article 12. [Trial by jury to be held sacred]
Vermont Constitution – Article 12: [Trial by jury to be held sacred]
This article is part of the Vermont Declaration of Rights, which serves as the state's bill of rights.
📜 Full Text of Article 12:
“That when any issue in fact, proper for the cognizance of a jury, is joined in a court of law, the parties have a right to trial by jury, which ought to be held sacred; and ought to be regulated by law.”
🧾 Plain-English Summary:
Right to Jury Trial: Any time there's a factual dispute in a legal case (as opposed to a question of law), and it's appropriate for a jury to decide, the parties have a constitutional right to a trial by jury.
Held Sacred: The right to jury trial is not just allowed—it is considered a fundamental and protected right.
Regulated by Law: While sacred, the procedures and implementation of jury trials can be governed and structured by statute (i.e., Vermont laws passed by the legislature).
⚖️ Key Points:
Reinforces a core principle of Anglo-American law: the right to be judged by a jury of one’s peers.
It applies to civil and criminal cases involving factual disputes.
Aims to protect citizens from arbitrary rulings by judges or government authorities.
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