trial by peers
Citizen-decided verdict process
Trial by peers is the right to be judged by people of similar standing rather than by authorities alone.
The phrase appears in legal contexts referring to jury trials, where ordinary citizens—not just judges—determine guilt or innocence.
The concept traces to guarantees against arbitrary punishment: The Constitution ensures trial by a jury of one's peers.
In casual use, peers may emphasize social equals: Let teenagers face trial by their peers.
- jury systemPeer-based trial adjudication
- jury selectionChoosing trial decision-makers
- Magna CartaCharter curbing royal authority
- equalitySame status for all
- due processGuaranteed judicial fairness
day in court · civic duty · habeas corpus · representation · social contract · voir dire · impartiality · community standards · presumption of innocence · burden of proof · opening statements · English Bill of Rights · Sixth Amendment · rule of law · closing arguments · court of public opinion · jury instructions · grand jury
- jury trialjury deliberation, jury selection, juror selection, voir dire, jury pool
- noble privilegestitles, lordship, fiefdom, manorial rights, tax exemption
- defendant rightsright to counsel, Miranda rights, Miranda warning, presumption of innocence, right to silence
- common lawprecedent, binding precedent, case law, precedents, court rulings
trial by peerskangaroo court
Illegitimate proceeding ignoring procedure
show trial · detention without trial · summary execution · star chamber · summary justice
trial by peerssummary execution
Killing without formal trial
trial by ordeal · trial by combat · indefinite detention · rendition · disappearance
trial, trials, trialed, trialing, tries, tried, trying, peer, peers