this post was submitted on 26 Dec 2024
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At least in your typical European country, there wouldn't be even a jury to begin with, since most European countries follow Roman aka Civil law. It is a better system than the tribal Saxon aka common law followed by USA, but in cases like this (someone did something that violates the law, but is morally right) it gets really messy.
Most continental European countries have law systems that are based on or are at least heavily influenced by the Napoleonic code. And the Napoleonic code has trial by jury for serious crimes (like murder).
I didn't know this
Every country evolved differently. And even from the law systems that evolved directly from the code Napoleon, there are some (I know of 1 atleast) without any lay jury system: The Netherlands scrapped the lay jury in 1813 already, basically right after Napoleon was kicked out.