“Trial By Jury: What’s the Big Deal?” is an animated educational presentation for high school civics classes in Georgia to increase court literacy among young people. This presentation was created to be used by high school civics teachers as a tool in fulfilling four specific requirements of the Social Studies Civics and Government performance standards.

This animated presentation reviews the history and importance of trial by jury through a discussion of the Magna Carta, the Star Chamber, the trial of William Penn, the Constitutional Convention in 1787, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Also covered in the presentation are how citizens are selected for jury duty, the role of a juror, and the importance of an impartial and diverse jury.

The State Bar of Georgia’s Law-Related Education Program offers several other opportunities for students and teachers to explore the law. Students can participate in Journey Through Justice, a free class tour program at the Bar Center, during which they learn a law lesson and then participate in a mock trial. Teachers can attend free workshops correlated to the Georgia Performance standards on such topics as the juvenile and criminal justice systems, federal and state courts, and the Bill of Rights. The LRE program also produces the textbook An Introduction to Law in Georgia for use in middle and high school classrooms.

You may view “Trial By Jury: What’s the Big Deal?” at www.gabar.org/cornerstones_of_freedom/civics_video/.
For a free DVD copy, e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call
404-527-8792. For more information on the LRE Program,
contact Deborah Craytor at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or
404-527-8785.