Final answer:
The Seventh Amendment states that a jury can be involved in civil trials at the federal level, such as the case of a restaurant worker suing her employer for unpaid wages. It guarantees a right to a jury trial for federal civil cases where the controversy exceeds twenty dollars, ensuring jurors decide questions of fact. therefore, option C is correct
Step-by-step explanation:
The Seventh Amendment and Civil Trials
The restaurant worker in the scenario is exercising her right to take her employer to civil court over unpaid wages. The specific amendment that states a jury can be involved in civil trials is the Seventh Amendment. This part of the Bill of Rights guarantees a jury trial for civil cases in federal courts. The Seventh Amendment applies to civil disputes where individuals, not the government, are seeking compensation for harm caused. It partially reads: 'In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved...'
In the case of the restaurant worker, they are the plaintiff seeking unpaid wages from their employer, the defendant. A jury can recommend the amount of damages to be awarded, which might be more inclined to side with what seems socially just rather than strictly legal interpretations. The amendment also preserves the distinction that judges decide legal questions, while juries decide questions of fact.
It is important to note that the Seventh Amendment applies to the federal level, and most civil trials are not federal cases. For cases concerning smaller amounts, a bench trial, where only a judge decides the outcome, may be more common. However, for more substantial disputes, the right to a jury trial is a vital protection for plaintiffs like the restaurant worker in the scenario.