<P> The U.S. Declaration of Independence accused George III of "depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of trial by jury ." </P> <P> Article III of the U.S. Constitution states that all trials shall be by jury . The right was expanded with the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which states in part, "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," and the Seventh Amendment to the United States Constitution, which guarantees a jury trial in civil cases . </P> <P> The U.S. Supreme Court noted the importance of the jury right in its 1968 ruling of Duncan v. Louisiana . In Duncan, the Court said: </P> <Dl> <Dd> "Those who wrote our constitutions knew from history and experience that it was necessary to protect against unfounded criminal charges brought to eliminate enemies and against judges too responsive to the voice of higher authority . The framers of the constitutions strove to create an independent judiciary but insisted upon further protection against arbitrary action . Providing an accused with the right trial by a jury of his peers gave him an inestimable safeguard against the corrupt or overzealous prosecutor and against the compliant, biased, or eccentric judge ." </Dd> </Dl>

The u.s. supreme court case that decided whether juveniles had the right to a jury trial was