"A jury is composed of twelve men of average ignorance"

This quote by Herbert Spencer is a commentary on the jury system. He is recommending that the jury is made up of individuals who are not experts in the law or the case being tried, but rather are of average intelligence and understanding. He is indicating that the jury is not comprised of specialists, however rather of individuals who are not particularly educated about the case or the law. This is implied to be a criticism of the jury system, as it suggests that the jury is not able to make a notified decision based on their knowledge and understanding of the case. Spencer is recommending that the jury system is flawed, as it depends on the average understanding of the jury members, instead of their competence. This quote is a reminder that the jury system is not perfect, which it is very important to make sure that the jury is made up of people who are well-informed and notified about the case.