Legal Definitions - juryman

The term juryman is an archaic word that refers to a person, specifically a man, who serves as a member of a jury. In contemporary legal language, the gender-neutral term juror is used to describe any individual selected to serve on a jury, regardless of gender.

A juror is an ordinary citizen chosen from the community to participate in a court trial. Their primary role is to listen to the evidence presented by both sides in a case, follow the judge's instructions on the law, and then deliberate with other jurors to reach a verdict based on the facts.

Here are some examples illustrating the role of a juror (who would historically have been referred to as a juryman):

• Example 1: Civil Negligence Case

  Imagine a lawsuit where a pedestrian is suing a driver for injuries sustained in a crosswalk accident. A group of citizens is selected to hear the case. One of these individuals, a retired teacher, carefully listens to the medical expert testimony, reviews the accident reconstruction diagrams, and considers whether the driver acted negligently. This individual is performing the duties of a juror, and in an earlier era, if male, would have been called a juryman.

• Example 2: Criminal Theft Trial

  Consider a criminal trial where a person is accused of shoplifting from a department store. A panel of twelve people is chosen to decide the defendant's guilt or innocence. One member of this panel, a local small business owner, pays close attention to the security camera footage and the testimony of the store's loss prevention officer. After hearing all the evidence and the judge's instructions, this individual will deliberate with the others to determine if the prosecution has proven guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. This person is a juror, fulfilling a role that was once exclusively, and then predominantly, referred to as a juryman for males.

• Example 3: Jury Selection Process

  During the process of *voir dire*, where potential jurors are questioned by attorneys and the judge, a software engineer is called for jury duty. The attorneys ask about his background, experiences, and any potential biases he might have regarding the legal system or the specific type of case. Although he has not yet been formally seated on a jury, he is a prospective juror. In historical contexts, a man undergoing this selection process would have been identified as a potential juryman.