Trial by jury + Right to counsel = the heart and soul of our criminal justice system.
"Ladies and gentlemen, when the authorities charge a person with a crime, we are often prone to make quick judgments ..... our first thought is always “GUILTY” ... that’s just sort of the way we are wired ....
On the other hand ... our Founding Fathers, recognizing the dangers of the unbridled power of the King, created a system of justice that is designed to protect the innocent.
In that spirit, our system of justice deliberately makes it difficult and demanding for the State to convict a person of a crime. And that first check ‘n balance is one’s constitutional right to a trial by jury.
And that is why we are gathered in this courtroom today, because no criminal wrongdoing ever occurred. .... because the Buck stops with you, the jury ...."