In criminal cases involving the death penalty, how many jurors must be present for the case?

In criminal cases involving the death penalty, the requirement for a jury is that it must consist of 12 jurors. This aligns with the constitutional protections found in the Sixth Amendment, which guarantees the right to a trial by an impartial jury in serious criminal cases. Specifically for capital cases, the presence of 12 jurors serves to ensure a more comprehensive deliberation, especially given the gravity of a death penalty sentence. The larger jury size reflects the significance and potential irreversibility of the decision they are tasked to make.

Other options suggest smaller juror numbers, which do not meet the necessary standards established for serious criminal cases in many jurisdictions, particularly for those involving the most severe consequences, such as the death penalty. Thus, having 12 jurors is both a legal requirement and an important aspect of the judicial process aimed at safeguarding the rights of the accused in capital cases.