when are you entitled to a jury trial
Jury trial
Every person accused of a crime punishable by incarceration for more than six months has a constitutionally protected right to a trial by jury , which arises in federal court from Article Three of the United States Constitution , which states in part , `` The Trial of all Crimes ... shall be by Jury ; and such Trial shall be held in the State where the said Crimes shall have been committed . '' The right was expanded with the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution , which states in part , `` In all criminal prosecutions , the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial , by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed . '' Both provisions were made applicable to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment . Most states ' constitutions also grant the right of trial by jury in lesser criminal matters , though most have abrogated that right in offenses punishable by fine only . The Supreme Court has ruled that if imprisonment is for six months or less , trial by jury is not required , meaning a state may choose whether or not to permit trial by jury in such cases . Under the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure , if the defendant is entitled to a jury trial , he may waive his right to have a jury , but both the government ( prosecution ) and court must consent to the waiver . Several states require jury trials for all crimes , `` petty '' or not . 
Every person accused of a crime punishable by incarceration for more than six months has a constitutionally protected right to a trial by jury , which arises in federal court from Article Three of the United States Constitution , which states in part , `` The Trial of all Crimes ... shall be by Jury ; and such Trial shall be held in the State where the said Crimes shall have been committed . '' The right was expanded with the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution , which states in part , `` In all criminal prosecutions , the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial , by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed . '' Both provisions were made applicable to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment . Most states ' constitutions also grant the right of trial by jury in lesser criminal matters , though most have abrogated that right in offenses punishable by fine only . The Supreme Court has ruled that if imprisonment is for six months or less , trial by jury is not required , meaning a state may choose whether or not to permit trial by jury in such cases . Under the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure , if the defendant is entitled to a jury trial , he may waive his right to have a jury , but both the government ( prosecution ) and court must consent to the waiver . Several states require jury trials for all crimes , `` petty '' or not .
Every person accused of a crime punishable by incarceration for more than six months has a constitutionally protected right to a trial by jury. Most states' constitutions also grant the right of trial by jury in lesser criminal matters. The Supreme Court has ruled that if imprisonment is for six months or less, trial by jury is not required, meaning a state may choose whether or not to permit trial by jury in such cases.
Every person accused of a crime punishable by incarceration for more than six months has a constitutionally protected right to a trial by jury , which arises in federal court from Article Three of the United States Constitution , which states in part , `` The Trial of all Crimes ... shall be by Jury ; and such Trial shall be held in the State where the said Crimes shall have been committed . '' Most states ' constitutions also grant the right of trial by jury in lesser criminal matters , though most have abrogated that right in offenses punishable by fine only . The Supreme Court has ruled that if imprisonment is for six months or less , trial by jury is not required , meaning a state may choose whether or not to permit trial by jury in such cases .