Articles
Amendments
Issues
Honor Roll
I
II
III
IV
V
VI
VII
VIII
IX
X
Bill of Rights
XI - XX
XXI - XXVII
Seventh Amendment
Right to Trial by Jury in Federal Civil Cases
[back]
[print all visible events]
[show all]
click an event for more information
1791
Seventh Amendment Ratified
1872
Parties In Civil Cases May Waive Right To Jury
1899
Court Says Civil Juries Must Have 12 Members
1900
Civil Jury Verdicts To Be Unanimous
1916
7th Amendment Not Applicable To State Court Trials
1938
Uniform Rules For Federal Civil Lawsuits Established
1943
7th Amendment Does Not Prevent 'Directed Verdict'
1970
Corporations Enjoy Seventh Amendment Right
1973
Civil Juries May Have Fewer Than 12 Members
1974
Seventh Amendment Right Applies To Statutory Claims
1977
Jury Right Not Absolute When 'Public Rights' Are Litigated
print
close
1977
Jury Right Not Absolute When 'Public Rights' Are Litigated
In
Atlas Roofing Co. v. OSHRC
, the U.S. Supreme Court rules unanimously that it is not a violation of the Seventh Amendment for Congress to give authority to an administrative agency rather than a jury to decide whether a violation of a federal statute has occurred. The court finds that Congress acted constitutionally when it created the Occupational Health and Safety Review Commission (OSHRC) to decide whether an Occupational Safety and Health Act violation has occurred.
Read a New York Times article about the ruling
©3/24/1977
Source:The New York Times
Learn more about OSHRC
Source:U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission
1987
Jury Right Not Absolute In Civil Trial's Penalty Phase
1989
7th Amendment Rights In Federal Statutory Claims Clarified
1996
Another Test Established For Exception To 7th Amendment