The entire purpose of the jury is to ensure the government, the King, doesn’t just make bad laws and jail the people as the people have authority via the jury over what laws they will find a person guilty of violating. If the jury doesn’t like the law, so be it.
The government employees feel they, and they alone, have total authority over the people and all dictates come from them. Well, surprise, We the People also have authority. We can ignore their dictates.
The show Courage New Hampshire gave a pretty accurate depiction of colonial court proceedings. Basically the whole village took part and everyone had something to say.
The fact that British appointed judges were stepping in and handing down sentences really angered the local people and was one of the catalysts of a growing revolution.
http://www.colonybay.net/w/index.php/movie-theater/