Editing Jury (section)

==== Germany ====
Trial by jury was introduced in most German states after the revolutionary events of 1848. However, it remained controversial; and, early in the 20th century, there were moves to abolish it.<ref>{{cite journal | title= Lay Judges in the German Criminal Courts | first1 = Gerhard | last1= Casper | first2= Hans | last2= Zeisel | journal= Journal of Legal Studies | volume= 1 | issue= 1 | date= January 1972 | jstor= 724014 | pages= 135–191 [139] | doi= 10.1086/467481 | s2cid = 144941508 }}</ref> The [[Emminger Reform]] of January 4, 1924, during an [[Article 48 (Weimar Constitution)|Article 48]] state of emergency, abolished the jury system and replaced it with a mixed system including bench trials and [[lay judge]]s.

In 1925, the [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|Social Democrats]] called for the reinstitution of the jury; a special meeting of the German Bar demanded revocation of the decrees, but "on the whole the abolition of the jury caused little commotion".<ref>{{cite journal | title= Lay Judges in the German Criminal Courts | first1 = Gerhard | last1= Casper | first2= Hans | last2= Zeisel | journal= Journal of Legal Studies | volume= 1 | issue= 1 | date= January 1972 | jstor= 724014 | pages= 135–191 [140] | doi=10.1086/467481| s2cid = 144941508 }}</ref> Their verdicts were widely perceived as [[Justice|unjust]] and inconsistent.

Today, most misdemeanors are tried by a ''Strafrichter'', meaning a single judge at an ''Amtsgericht''; felonies and more severe misdemeanors are tried by a ''Schöffengericht'', also located at the ''Amtsgericht'', composed of 1 judge and 2 lay judges; some felonies are heard by ''Erweitertes Schöffengericht'', or extended ''Schöffengericht'', composed of 2 judges and 2 lay judges; severe felonies and other "special" crimes are tried by the ''große Strafkammer'', composed of 3 judges and 2 lay judges at the ''Landgericht'', with specially assigned courts for some crimes called ''Sonderstrafkammer'';  felonies resulting in the death of a human being are tried by the ''Schwurgericht'', composed of 3 judges and 2 lay judges, located at the ''Landgericht''; and serious crimes against the state are tried by the ''Strafsenat'', composed of 5 judges, at an ''Oberlandesgericht''.<ref>{{cite journal | title= Lay Judges in the German Criminal Courts | first1 = Gerhard | last1= Casper | first2= Hans | last2= Zeisel | journal= Journal of Legal Studies | volume= 1 | issue= 1 | date= January 1972 | jstor= 724014 | pages= 135–191 [142] | doi=10.1086/467481| s2cid = 144941508 }}</ref>

In some civil cases, such as commercial law or patent law, there are also lay judges, who have to meet certain criteria (e.g., being a merchant).