12 on a jury

[Ric.ror]

Why is there 12 on a jury?
Why not 11 or 9 I suspect that 13 would not be considered.
Is it in relation to religious views

[chelle7272]

I don't think it's related to religion, I thought it was a number which was felt was sufficient to represent a cross section of people

[chelle7272]

yes I think Scotland have 15

[Ric.ror]

Arent there?
I only ask because my colleague is on jury service and she is one of 12

[cathfromsaron]

traditionally a roman notion: roman law provided for the yearly selection of judices, who would be responsible for any local issues. thus a jury of twelve free men were assigned to arbitrate in disputes. ...

[scotman]

Don't know the specific answer but it always seems odd to me to have an even number on any panel that is required to reach a decision.

[Euphemia]

Yes, there are 15 in Scotland.

[Old_Geezer]

From New York Time; could be correct.

"An ancient Welsh king, Morgan of Gla-Morgan, who established trial by jury in A.D. 725, is said to have declared, "For as Christ and his 12 apostles were finally to judge the world, so human tribunals should be composed of the king and 12 wise men.""

[Old_Geezer]

From History Of Grand Jury, Merced County website

"During the years 978 to 1016, one of the Dooms (laws) stated that for each 100 men, 12 were to be named to act as an accusing body. They were cautioned “not to accuse an innocent man or spare a guilty one.”"

[4candles]

"Eleven good men and true" doesn't quite have the same ring about it.

[your-head-here]

@ scotman
"Don't know the specific answer but it always seems odd to me to have an even number on any panel that is required to reach a decision."

Juries don't work like that, though: because they decide matters of fact in a criminal case, which need to be proved "beyond reasonable doubt," the decision either has to be unanimous, or the trial judge can choose to accept a majority verdict from at least 10 of the 12 jurors. Anything less than that, and the case supposedly can't have been proved "beyond reasonable doubt."

It's not like the Supreme Court, where a majority decision can be made by e.g. 4 of 7 judges with the other 3 dissenting. The difference is that Supreme Court judges determine controversial issues of law ("is doing this legal?"), whereas juries are there to decide issues of fact ("did they do this?").

Sometimes you end up with fewer than 12 jurors e.g. if one of them needs to drop out. But 12 is the starting point.