A jury is a panel of laypersons selected to sit in a trial court to hear and decide the facts of a civil or criminal case, acting as the finder of fact for the judge.
Imagine a group of regular people chosen by the court to listen to the evidence and decide what happened in a lawsuit. They are the ones who look at the evidence and make a decision about the case.
The jury is crucial because it serves as the mechanism through which laypersons determine the truth in a dispute, making it central to civil litigation and criminal proceedings where a judge alone cannot decide the case.
Visual model
A civil plaintiff's jury deciding liability in a tort case.
A criminal jury determining guilt or innocence.
Document context
A jury is a panel of ordinary citizens tasked with examining evidence, determining facts, and rendering a verdict or decision within a legal proceeding.
The jury is crucial because it serves as the mechanism through which laypersons determine the truth in a dispute, making it central to civil litigation and criminal proceedings where a judge alone cannot decide the case.
It usually appears when a case requires a factual determination by ordinary citizens rather than solely by the judge or prosecutor.
Juries are typically seen in civil lawsuits, criminal trials, and administrative proceedings where lay judgment is required to assess the evidence.
The jury members are affected as they participate in the legal process, but the plaintiff(s) and defendant(s) are the primary parties whose case is being decided by the jury.
The jury operates by hearing testimony, evaluating presented evidence, weighing credibility of witnesses, and ultimately reaching a verdict or finding based on the legal standard established by the court.
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Disclaimer: We do not provide legal advice. We translate legal language into plain English and help you prepare for a conversation with a lawyer.