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A '''jury trial''' is a trial by one's peers.  The term usually applies to a jury composed of random citizens in the community where the crime occurred.

A '''jury trial''' is a trial by one's peers.  The term usually applies to a [[jury]] composed of random citizens in the community where the crime occurred.

The right to trial by jury is part of the American constitution, and is one of the legal defenses put in place to keep a tyrannical government from using a court of law as a means of enforcing a dictatorship.  In some countries with totalitarian governments, "show trials" have been used with no jury to put a false appearance of post-facto legitimacy to dictatorial oppression; the rights to trial by jury and the right of a defendant to hear the charges against them and challenge the evidence serves as a check against totalitarian power.

The right to trial by jury is part of the American constitution, and is one of the legal defenses put in place to keep a tyrannical government from using a court of law as a means of enforcing a dictatorship.  In some countries with totalitarian governments, "show trials" have been used with no jury to put a false appearance of post-facto legitimacy to dictatorial oppression; the rights to trial by jury and the right of a defendant to hear the charges against them and challenge the evidence serves as a check against totalitarian power.