The new Chief Justice explains citizens’ rights and responsibilities under the new constitution, September 9, 1777

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The New Chief Justice Explains Citizens' Rights and Responsibilities, September 9, 1777

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Date

September 9, 1777

Description

Attorney John Jay, who had been the lead writer of the 1777 state constitution, began in the fall to serve as the state’s first Chief Justice. He took the occasion of instructing the jury in his first trial to go well beyond describing just their technical responsibilities and to provide an eloquent explanation of the significance of the document and the government it created. Jay emphasized the responsibilities of citizens in a representative form of government.

Type

Written Document

Region

New York State

Era

Revolution and New Nation

Topic

American Revolution

Repository

New York State Library

Source

Chief Justice John Jay, “To the Grand Jury of Ulster County,” September 9, 1777 The Correspondence and Public Papers of John Jay, vol. 1 (1763-1781)

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