Jury

Definition

A jury is a group of individuals selected to hear evidence in a legal trial and render a verdict based on that evidence. In the context of legal proceedings, juries play a crucial role in ensuring that justice is served by providing a fair and impartial evaluation of the facts presented in court. Juries can be composed of either a jury of peers or a grand jury, depending on the nature of the case and the legal requirements involved.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Juries are typically composed of 6 to 12 members, depending on jurisdiction and type of case, and their decisions must usually be unanimous for criminal cases.
2. There are two main types of juries: trial juries, which decide guilt or innocence in criminal cases, and grand juries, which determine whether there is enough evidence to charge someone with a crime.
3. The right to a jury trial is guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution for criminal cases and by the Seventh Amendment for civil cases.
4. Jury duty is considered a civic responsibility, and failure to appear can result in penalties, including fines or other legal consequences.
5. Jurors are instructed by the judge on how to deliberate and reach a decision based solely on the evidence presented during the trial.

Review Questions

• Explain the role of juries in the legal system and how they contribute to the concept of justice.
  • Juries play a vital role in the legal system as they provide an essential check on government power by allowing ordinary citizens to participate in the judicial process. Their main responsibility is to evaluate evidence presented during trials and deliver verdicts that reflect their judgment. By involving community members, juries help ensure that legal decisions are grounded in societal values and norms, contributing to a more just legal system.
• Discuss the differences between trial juries and grand juries, highlighting their respective functions within the judicial process.
  • Trial juries, also known as petit juries, are responsible for determining the guilt or innocence of defendants in criminal trials or deciding outcomes in civil cases. In contrast, grand juries do not determine guilt but instead assess whether there is sufficient evidence to formally charge someone with a crime. Grand juries play a critical role in protecting citizens from unfounded charges by scrutinizing evidence before formal prosecution begins.
• Evaluate the impact of jury selection processes on the composition of juries and discuss how this may affect trial outcomes.
  • Jury selection processes significantly influence who ultimately serves on a jury and can affect trial outcomes due to factors like biases and diversity. During selection, attorneys may use strategies such as voir dire to identify potential biases among candidates, aiming to create an impartial jury. However, issues like underrepresentation of certain demographic groups can lead to questions about fairness in verdicts, highlighting ongoing debates about how well juries reflect societal diversity and whether this affects justice.

Related terms

Verdict: The formal decision made by a jury regarding the guilt or innocence of a defendant in a criminal trial or the outcome in a civil case.

Jury Selection: The process by which jurors are chosen from a pool of potential jurors to serve on a specific case, often involving questioning by attorneys to ensure impartiality.

Subpoena: A legal document that orders an individual to appear in court as a witness or to produce evidence in a legal proceeding.