The Seventh Amendment

"In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law."

    The Seventh Amendment extends the right to a jury trial to civil suits for monetary damages.  It preserves the respective roles of the judge and jury.  The judge is charged with determining the law, and the jury is charged with making findings of fact.  However, the judge may make preliminary findings of fact regarding the admissibility of  evidence.  A judge can, under certain circumstances, set aside a jury verdict and order a new trial when he finds that the jury's verdict goes against the manifest weight of the evidence.  For example, the judge may order additur or remittitur, whereby an amount greater to or less than the jury verdict will be awarded in damages unless one of the parties chooses to move for a new trial.

Know Your Rights

  • Amendment I
  • Freedom of speech, assembly, and  religion
  • Amendment II
  • Right to bear arms
  • Amendment IIII
  • Quartering of soldiers
  • Amendment IV
  • Freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures
  • Amendment V
  • Right against self-incrimination, double jeopardy, uncompensated takings; due process of law
  • Amendment VI
  • Right to speedy and public jury trial; right to confront witnesses; right to counsel
  • Amendment VII
  • Right to jury in civil trials
  • Amendment VIII
  • Prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment and excessive bail
  • Amendment IX
  • Reterntion of unenumerated rights by the people
  • Amendment X
  • Rights reserved by the states
  • Amendment XIV
  • Right to citizenship, due process of law, equal protection of the laws