Dale Adams and Ron Cisneros dive into the often-overlooked Seventh Amendment — the constitutional right to a jury trial. They explore why the U.S. stands almost alone in the world for consistent jury trials, trace the history from the Magna Carta to modern Supreme Court cases, and discuss how jury duty is a form of civic engagement. The conversation also covers jury nullification, administrative courts, and how the right to a jury trial protects everyday citizens from government overreach.

Timeline:

0:00 – Introduction & overview of the Seventh Amendment

1:30 – Four of the Bill of Rights' 10 amendments address judicial processes

2:30 – Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists and the push for judicial limits

4:00 – The U.S. is nearly alone in consistent jury trials worldwide

5:30 – History of trial by jury: Magna Carta to English common law

7:00 – India's abandonment of jury trials and the dangers of populism

9:00 – The OJ Simpson trial and trust in juries vs. government

12:00 – Administrative courts and the erosion of jury rights

14:00 – Tull v. United States (1987): Who decides guilt vs. penalty?

17:00 – Break

17:30 – Jury verdicts cannot be overturned on appeal — why that matters

19:30 – Tocqueville: Jury duty as a civic school for citizens

21:00 – Jury nullification: How juries can check bad laws (Hamilton's libel case)

23:00 – Civility in the jury room: Building consensus across differences

24:00 – 12 Angry Men and the power of deliberation

25:00 – Closing thought: Would you rather a judge or 12 neighbors decide your fate?

26:00 – Wrap-up & where to find the podcast