It's common. It exists in some legal jurisdictions. The idea is it is supposed to help justice so the decision about people having to pay large amounts of money shouldn't just be all up to one judge. In reality, these juries of ordinary people often make very irrational decisions and are stupidly swayed by emotion, so another judge has to come in and override their decision.
Chris, you seem to be ignorant about a great many things. The type of questions you ask very often seem like something a naive little child would ask, who doesn't know anything about the world. Maybe you should figure out how to do basic internet research that could easily answer a lot of your own questions, so you don't waste other people's time.
Yes, because only children are not legal experts! And it's common knowledge to know the ins and outs of Civil Law!
