Why are civil jury trials mainly associated with the United States?

The civil jury trial is primarily associated with the United States because efforts to implement the institution outside the Anglo-American legal orbit largely failed, leading the U.S. to emerge as its primary home. While the jury originated in the English common law tradition, most other nations have either abolished the jury for civil matters or never adopted it, often favoring professional judges who handle both factual and legal determinations.123

In the United States, the civil jury remains a protected institution, notably reinforced by the Seventh Amendment, which preserves the right to a jury trial in civil suits at common law. Because the U.S. system relies on laypersons to decide factual issues, it necessitates specific procedural requirements—such as discovery and concentrated trial schedules—to ensure the jury is not misled and can function effectively within a finite timeframe. Consequently, more than 90 percent of all jury trials worldwide now occur within the United States.421