Opinion ID: 1755850
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Jury Size

Text: Benson also contends that due process was violated by impanelling a six-person jury rather than a twelve-person jury. Benson relies upon Thompson v. Utah, 170 U.S. 343, 18 S.Ct. 620, 42 L.Ed. 1061 (1898), and Section 33-12-19, N.D.C.C., to support his argument. [4] In Thompson v. Utah, supra , the United States Supreme Court stated that the jury referred to in the Sixth Amendment was a jury of twelve persons neither more, nor less. However, that statement was rejected in Williams v. Florida, 399 U.S. 78, 90 S.Ct. 1893, 26 L.Ed.2d 446 (1970), which held that a twelve-person jury is not a necessary ingredient of a trial by jury under the United States Constitution and that a state law permitting a six-person jury did not violate the defendant's Sixth Amendment rights as applied to the States through the Fourteenth Amendment. This decision leaves the question of the size of juries to the states and to Congress unrestrained by an interpretation of the Sixth Amendment that would forever dictate the precise size of a jury. Article 1, § 13, N.D. Const., provides as follows: Section 13. The right of trial by jury shall be secured to all, and remain inviolate. A person accused of a crime for which he may be confined for a period of more than one year has the right of trial by a jury of twelve. The legislative assembly may determine the size of the jury for all other cases, provided that the jury consists of at least six members. All verdicts must be unanimous. Section 29-17-12, N.D.C.C., in effect at the time of trial, [5] provides, as follows: 29-17-12. Number of jurorsHow sworn. In all felony cases when a jury is impaneled, a jury shall consist of twelve qualified jurors, and in all misdemeanor cases when a jury is impaneled, a jury shall consist of six qualified jurors unless any party makes a timely written demand for a jury of twelve. Jurors shall be sworn or affirmed well and truly to try and true deliverance make between the state of North Dakota and the defendant whom they shall have in charge, and a true verdict to give according to the evidence, and such verdict must be unanimous. See also, Rule 23, N.D.R.Crim.P. Our Constitution and the foregoing statute specifically authorize a six-person jury in misdemeanor cases which is also permissible under the federal constitution as interpreted in Williams v. Florida, supra . Consequently, Benson's trial by a six-person jury did not deny him due process.