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An Arizona appeals court is set to issue a ruling today about whether people accused of shoplifting are entitled to jury trials.
The decision stems from a Peoria woman who got pinched for shoplifting and was denied a jury trial by a Maricopa County Superior Court Judge last year, CBS 5 (KPHO) reports.
The penalties for shoplifting are often relatively minimal — probation, or community service — and the judge seemed to think calling in a jury wasn’t necessary.
However, a 1978 Court of Appeals Ruling determined that even folks looking for that small five-finger discount are entitled to jury trials.
The ruling is expected this afternoon.
