A jury of one’s peers refers to a defendant’s constitutional right to have a trial by a jury made of fellow citizens. The jurors should be a random selection of citizens who are a representation of the community where the case is being tried. This right applies to all criminal cases, but not necessarily all civil cases.
The right to a jury of one’s peers is found in the Sixth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution which states, “the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury.” The Impartial jury provision is intended to ensure that a jury’s verdict is not tainted by biases that jurors may harbor before being presented with the evidence of the particular case.
Jury of one’s peers stems from the expression “judgment of his peers” in the Magna Carta, which required that nobles accused of crimes would be judged by members of the nobility rather than the king.
[Last reviewed in March of 2025 by the Wex Definitions Team]