Simple English definitions for legal terms
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A group of people selected by law to decide questions of fact and return a verdict in a case. In the past, it referred to a jury in a court baron consisting of tenants who made homage to the lord. Other types of juries include grand juries, which investigate crimes, and petit juries, which decide the outcome of a specific case. Juries are important in ensuring a fair trial and justice for all.
A homage jury is a type of jury that was used in a court baron. It consisted of tenants who had made homage to the lord. The term "homage" refers to the oath of loyalty that tenants swore to their lord.
For example, in medieval England, a lord would hold a court baron to settle disputes among his tenants. The homage jury would be made up of tenants who had sworn loyalty to the lord and were therefore considered to be impartial in the case.
Today, the term "homage jury" is not commonly used, as the court baron system has largely been replaced by modern legal systems. However, the concept of an impartial jury is still important in many legal systems, including the United States.
For example, in the United States, a jury is selected according to law and given the power to decide questions of fact and return a verdict in the case submitted to them. The jury is expected to be impartial and base their verdict on competent legal evidence.