May 25, 2009 First, let me explain that jurors have not always
been a part of government, but they have been deciders of
justice. From earliest times, we know from oral traditions of
tribal cultures where disputes were settled by each side
choosing five people. These ten people were responsible for
delivering a verdict based on fairness and justice, tempered
with mercy. Because tribal peace and restoring the damaged party
were the goals, all ten jurors were aware that their verdict
must meet the approval of everyone, even the relatives of the
loser of the dispute. Justice, fairness, and mercy were required
of early jurors. Verdicts were public, as were the arguments
presented. Juries have been considered fair deciders of justice
in tribal cultures, churches, temples, governments, states,
families, nations, and sometimes, in simple groups of nomadic
peoples seeking a fair mechanism for social balance. Again,
jurors have always functioned for justice, but not always from
within other institutions. FIJA’s missio