Simple English definitions for legal terms
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A jury is a group of people who listen to evidence in a trial and decide what really happened. The judge decides what laws apply to the case, but the jury decides what the facts are. In the United States, people have the right to a trial by jury for serious crimes. Juries usually have 12 people, but sometimes they can have fewer. The jury's decision is final, and nobody can change it.
A jury is a group of people who are chosen to make decisions about the facts of a trial and give a verdict. The judge decides on the law and what evidence can be used in the trial. The United States Constitution guarantees the right to a trial by jury. Criminal defendants have the right to a jury trial for crimes that carry a penalty of more than six months imprisonment. The Seventh Amendment preserves the right of a jury for civil cases in federal court, but it is not required in state courts. Most states still provide juries for civil trials.
A jury usually consists of 12 members, but smaller juries are also allowed. In federal court and most state courts, a jury verdict must be unanimous. Parties to a case can agree to waive their jury rights before a verdict is returned. Judges and the parties select the jurors from a jury panel. The judge will question prospective jurors to determine if any jurors are unqualified to sit on the jury. Parties can also exclude individual jurors before trial by using peremptory challenges. They cannot exclude jurors based on race, sex, or ethnicity.
Once a jury reaches a verdict, it is final, and the deliberations will not be reviewed or overturned. Even if the jury is suspected of rejecting the judge's instructions or evidence presented, the verdict will stand.
These examples illustrate how a jury is chosen to make decisions about the facts of a trial and give a verdict. In a criminal trial, the jury decides if the defendant is guilty or not guilty of the crime they are accused of committing. In a civil trial, the jury decides if the defendant is responsible for the harm caused to the plaintiff and how much money the defendant should pay the plaintiff. In a high-profile case, the jury selection process may take weeks or even months to ensure that the jurors are impartial and unbiased.