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Simple English definitions for legal terms
beyond a reasonable doubt
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A quick definition of beyond a reasonable doubt:
Term: beyond a reasonable doubt
Definition: Beyond a reasonable doubt is when the prosecution in a criminal case has to prove that the defendant is guilty with almost complete certainty. This means that the evidence presented at trial must leave no other reasonable explanation for what happened. It is a much higher standard than the one used in civil cases, which only requires a certainty greater than 50 percent.
Related Terms: Preponderance of the evidence, Burden of proof
Further Reading: For more information on the origins of this standard, download this . For Supreme Court cases related to this legal standard, see Patterson v. New York and Mullaney v. Wilbur.
A more thorough explanation:
Beyond a reasonable doubt is a legal term used in criminal cases. It means that the prosecution must prove the defendant's guilt to a very high standard. The jury must be almost certain of the defendant's guilt before they can find them guilty.
For example, if someone is accused of murder, the prosecution must present evidence that proves the defendant committed the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. This means that the evidence must be so strong that there is no other reasonable explanation for what happened.
The standard of proof for criminal cases is much higher than for civil cases. In civil cases, the standard is called "preponderance of the evidence," which only requires a certainty greater than 50 percent.
Overall, beyond a reasonable doubt is a very high standard of proof that the prosecution must meet in criminal cases.