To avoid elitism, I assume

Wow, totally agreed!
And whats sad is that if the majority says guilty, and one person says not guilty - that one person will change their answer just to get out quicker.

So messed up.

agreed, but it's better than the alternative of having elected people make those decisions. Politicians on a jury make me shudder....

It is for you to have a jury of your peers. Average people just like you who might see things from the same perspective being considered more fair than a group of people that look down on you from their pedestals, looking at cold sterile facts. I can see plusses on both sides, but I think that someone who sees as I do might get me out of a pickle.

it's the idea of keeping the public feeling safe in their own minds by having people of all different backgrounds making up key decisions.

There are circles of people whom have called for "professional juries". These folks would be paid to serve on juries. As taken from the Wall Street Journal, "We’re in the 21st Century, and our legal system uses a method of adjudication that was invented in the Middle Ages. It’s time for a more professional way of resolving legal disputes, one where the decisionmakers are not a bunch of often-unwilling people plucked from the street, forced to upend their lives to resolve the disputes of others, and without the expertise to evaluate the facts and apply the law."

It has already been said. A jury of peers, people like the person being tried for a crime. No intellectuals or politicians judging the person (unless he/she happens to be one).
And, no one likes jury duty. It's hard work sitting there giving your full attention and then having to make a decision regarding a person's freedom. The trial can go on for a long time and the pay isn't very much. Juries really don't pass sentence in criminal cases, the judge does that and sometimes it's a panel or committee.

And, who better to decide your guilt of innocence than persons like yourself. If you are an "unqualified schmo" the people who pass the judgment will be unqualified schmos also. :)

a jury of our peers...

the prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt, so must prove to reasonable people that the defendent is guilty. and the people who dont care are eliminated early

I'd like to know the same thing. Unfortunately, I don't know, so I can't answer.

It's all propaganda, now that you have realized it for yourself, you can join the other disillusioned hordes in America.