<P> The English king Æthelred the Unready issued a legal code at Wantage , which states that the twelve leading thegns ( minor nobles ) of each wapentake ( a small district ) were required to swear that they would investigate crimes without bias . These ' juries ' differed from the present - day kind by being self - informing ; instead of getting information through a trial , the jurors were required to investigate the case themselves . </P>
<P> The English king Æthelred the Unready issued a legal code at Wantage , which states that the twelve leading thegns ( minor nobles ) of each wapentake ( a small district ) were required to swear that they would investigate crimes without bias . These ' juries ' differed from the present - day kind by being self - informing ; instead of getting information through a trial , the jurors were required to investigate the case themselves . </P>
who was the english king who introduced the use of juries
who was the english king who introduced the use of juries
Æthelred the Unready
Æthelred the Unready