Author:  The Constitutional Rights Foundation of Chicago/ The American Jury

This interdisciplinary lesson considers the use of 12 members on a jury, and whether decreasing that number impacts the chance of a fair trial.  Students learn about some historical uses of the number 12.  They then participate in a statistical impact of jury size on juror diversity.

Objectives

• Involve students in an interdisciplinary lesson in which they determine statistical probability of minority placement on a jury of twelve as opposed to a jury of six.
• Draw the issue of jury size to student awareness.
• Students will evaluate the impact of reduced jury size.
• Students will speculate/form reasoned judgments upon the impact to justice.

Source

http://www.crfc.org/americanjury/lessons/jury_peers/number_twelve1.html

Source

"The American Jury: Bulwark of Democracy" is an on-line resource guide for teachers, students, and citizens devoted to explaining the American jury system and its role in American legal, social, and political life.