Why are there 12 people on a jury?

Why are there 12 people on a jury?

Iloilo Jones (Executive Director of Fully Informed Jury Association) gives expert video advice on: Why do we have juries?; What was the first trial by jury?; What is 'The Jury Selection and Service Act'? and more...

The roots of why we have twelve people on a jury go back to Biblical times for one, when there were twelve disciples. It was always considered to be a good number of people to make sure that all of the minority populations were represented. And that there was a wide enough selection from the community or the neighborhood that every opinion would be represented on the jury. It also meant that the rights of minorities were soundly protected because if there are only two minorities on the jury, and they refuse to convict, that person would have to be tried again. So you see, if there's only a few minorities and it's a minority on trial, this way that person can be protected from vicious prosecutions.