An interesting perspective by Richard Gunderman MD, Ph.D and published in Psychology Today explores declining jury trials in America and examines how it threatens democracy. Here is an excerpt:

The trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin in the death of George Floyd has naturally garnered considerable public attention, as have great trials of the past such as the Salem witch trials, the “Black Sox” scandal, and the O.J. Simpson trial. The focal point in such cases is usually the perceived justice of the verdict. Yet while everyone wants to see justice done, it is important not to lose sight of other purposes at work in the American justice system, and in particular an often-overlooked function of jury trials.

In Democracy in America, Alexis de Tocqueville points out that the jury trial serves purposes that extend far beyond reaching a just verdict. “The jury,” he argues, “is therefore above all a political institution, and it is from that point of view that it must always be judged.” Tocqueville’s observations are especially apt in the present day, when rates of jury trials are falling precipitously. As progressively fewer people serve on juries, a vital source of civic education is drying up, with consequences that may continue to damage our culture for generations.

The full article can be accessed through this link.