Legal Features

The Rutherford Institute is committed to expertise in addressing issues of human rights and civil liberties. Legal Features contains an in-depth analysis of the legal issues which The Rutherford Institute is involved in everyday. Court briefings, case summaries, and legal analysis can provide a deeper understanding of the work which The Rutherford Institute takes on in order to protect and extend human rights and civil liberties throughout the country.

Recent Articles

June 19, 2026

POWER & THE CONSTITUTION: The Jury Box Is Shrinking—and So Are Your Constitutional Protections (Minor v. Florida)

At first glance, the difference between six jurors and twelve may sound like a technical legal issue. It is not. The jury system was designed to stand between the individual and the immense power of the government. When juries shrink, so does the public’s ability to serve as a check on prosecutors, judges, police, and the machinery of the state.

This feature looks at why the Founders understood the jury as a safeguard against tyranny, why twelve jurors matter, and how the erosion of jury rights fits into a broader pattern of diminishing constitutional protections.

December 11, 2025

2025 Annual Report: Protecting Liberty in a Year of Unchecked Government Power

What did 2025 mean for your freedoms? The Rutherford Institute’s 2025 Annual Report breaks down the key battles—from surveillance and censorship to executive overreach and the rise of the “prison state.”

See how TRI fought back.