The Seventh Amendment guarantees a jury trial in civil cases at law in federal court and limits the circumstances under which courts may overturn a jury’s findings of fact.1 Although this right is rooted in English common law and was important during the colonial era, it was initially omitted from the Constitution. The First Congress, however, ultimately adopted the right as one of the Bill of Rights, which became effective in 1791.2 Since then, the Supreme Court has interpreted the phrase “Suits at common law” under the Amendment as preserving the right of trial by jury in civil cases as it “existed under the English common law when the amendment was adopted.” 3 This means that the Amendment does not guarantee trial by jury in cases under admiralty and maritime law and in other proceedings historically tried by a court instead of a jury, nor does it reach statutory proceedings unknown to the common law concerning the enforcement of statutory “public rights” created by Congress.4

The following essays in this section address in more detail the historical background of the right to jury trials in civil cases and the types of civil cases and claims requiring a jury trial. In addition, the essays also address other aspects of this right, including the circumstances under which courts may make gatekeeping juridical determinations that prevent submission of claims to a jury, the composition and functions of a jury in civil cases, and the circumstances under which courts may order the entry of a judgment contrary to a jury’s verdict.5

Footnotes

1

U.S. Const. amend. VII. The Supreme Court has not held that the Seventh Amendment’s guarantee of the right to a civil trial by jury applies to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment. See Curtis v. Leother, 415 U.S. 189, 192 n.6 (1974); Minneapolis & St. Louis R. Co. v. Bombolis, 241 U.S. 211 (1916). Most state constitutions, however, include this right. See 2 William J. Rich, Modern Constitutional Law § 22:13 (3rd ed. 2011).

2

See Amdt7.2.1 Historical Background of Jury Trials in Civil Cases.

3

Balt. & Carolina Line v. Redman, 295 U.S. 654, 657 (1935); Parsons v. Bedford, 28 U.S. (3 Pet.) 433, 446–48 (1830).

4

See Amdt7.2.2 Identifying Civil Cases Requiring a Jury Trial and Amdt7.2.3 Cases Combining Law and Equity.

5

See Amdt7.2.4 Restrictions on the Role of the Judge through Amdt7.3.2 Appeals from State Courts to the Supreme Court.