What is the Seventh Amendment?
The Seventh Amendment of the United States Constitution provides that “in suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved”” If you are involved in a lawsuit (in which the amount sought is greater than $20), your right to a trial by jury is preserved. Isn’t a Jury Trial Always Guaranteed? No, a jury trial is not always guaranteed. The Sixth Amendment grants the right to a jury trial in criminal prosecutions. The Seventh Amendment has been interpreted to apply only to civil suits in which money damages are claimed (e.g., breach of contract, personal injury). The Supreme Court has long made a distinction between such “legal” claims and “equitable” claims. The Seventh Amendment does not apply if the lawsuit seeks an equitable remedy (such as an injunction) where no money damages are involved. What Does a Civil Jury Look Like? The Supreme Court has interpreted the Seventh Amendment as including a jury of 12 perso
