JURY TRIAL - WILLIAMS V FLORIDA, 399 US 78 (1970)

• NCJ Number: 3509
• Journal: JOURNAL OF CRIMINAL LAW, CRIMINOLOGY AND POLICE SCIENCE Volume: 61 Issue: 4 Dated: (DECEMBER 1970) Pages: 526-530
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1970
• Length: 5 pages
• Corporate Author: Williams and Wilkins Co
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

TRIAL BY A JURY OF LESS THAN TWELVE DOES NOT VIOLATE THE SIXTH AMENDMENT.

Abstract

THE SUPREME COURT CONCLUDED THAT THE NUMBER OF PERSONS COMPRISING A JURY DOES NOT AFFECT ITS FUNCTION AS A BUFFER BETWEEN THE STATE AND THE INDIVIDUAL IN WILLIAMS V. FLORIDA. THE COMMON LAW REQUIREMENT OF CONVICTION BY TWELVE PERSONS WAS OVERRULED. THE CASE ALSO HELD THAT A DEFENDANT CAN BE COMPELLED TO REVEAL HIS ALIBI PRIOR TO TRIAL, IN SPITE OF THE PRIVILEGE AGAINST SELF INCRIMINATION.