Skip to main content
Back to Show
PBS News Hour

Why jury trials are becoming less common

A new analysis of federal court cases published last week by The New York Times shows that jury trials are becoming increasingly less common. In 1997, 3,200 out of 63,000 federal defendants were convicted in jury trials. But by 2015, even as the number of defendants grew to 81,000, jury convictions dropped to 1,650. Benjamin Weiser of The New York Times joins William Brangham from Maine.

Support Provided By
Season
May 29, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
May 29, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
May 28, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
May 28, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
May 27, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
May 27, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
May 26, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
56:46
May 26, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
May 25, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
May 25, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
May 22, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
May 22, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
May 21, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
May 21, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
May 20, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
May 20, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
May 19, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
May 19, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
May 18, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
May 18, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
August 31, 2025 - PBS News Weekend full episode
26:45
August 31, 2025 - PBS News Weekend full episode
April 5, 2025 - PBS News Weekend full episode
26:45
April 5, 2025 - PBS News Weekend full episode
Active loading indicator