Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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What if you didn’t get a jury at your trial?

In Grievance 18 of the Declaration of Independence, Chris Canty, student at George Washington University, explains how colonists were denied the right to trial by jury in certain cases.

Instead, cases like smuggling were sent to admiralty courts, where a single judge decided the outcome. No jury. No peers. Just a ruling from a magistrate.
For colonists, this was a serious violation of their rights. Trial by jury had been a core part of English law since the Magna Carta, and losing it felt like losing a key protection against government power.

This wasn’t just about one case or one court. It was about a bigger issue: if the government can control the courts, can it also control justice?

This is Part 18 of our 27-part series breaking down every grievance that led to the American Revolution, building toward Independence Day.

Explore more:
billofrightsinstitute.org/constitution-day

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