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Simple English definitions for legal terms

Moral Certainty

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A quick definition of Moral Certainty:

Moral Certainty: In a criminal trial, when the jury is sure that the defendant is guilty, they have moral certainty. It means that they have no doubts in their minds that the person committed the crime. This is the same as saying that the prosecution has proven the case beyond a reasonable doubt.

A more thorough explanation:

Definition: In a criminal trial, moral certainty is a standard of proof that is equivalent to proof beyond a reasonable doubt. It means that the evidence presented in court must satisfy the judgment and conscience of the jury, as reasonable people, that the defendant is guilty of the crime charged. The reasonable doubt/moral certainty standard is described in the Supreme Court case Agnew v. U.S., 165 U.S. 36, 51 (1897) as follows:

"The jury must be satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt as regards the guilt of the accused before they can find a verdict of guilty. By a 'reasonable doubt' is not meant a possible doubt, but such a doubt, arising from the evidence, that leaves the minds of the jury in such a state that they cannot say, after having reviewed all the evidence, that they have an abiding conviction, to a moral certainty, of the guilt of the accused."

Example: In a murder trial, the prosecution must present evidence that convinces the jury to a moral certainty that the defendant committed the crime. This means that the evidence must be so strong that the jury has no lingering doubts about the defendant's guilt. For example, if there were multiple eyewitnesses who saw the defendant shoot the victim, and forensic evidence that linked the defendant to the crime scene, the jury may be convinced to a moral certainty that the defendant is guilty.

Explanation: The example illustrates how the standard of moral certainty is applied in a criminal trial. The evidence presented must be so strong that it leaves no doubt in the minds of the jury that the defendant is guilty. This standard is higher than a mere possibility of doubt, and requires the jury to have an abiding conviction of the defendant's guilt.

Moot Point | Moral Law

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HopefullyInLawSchool
16:06
it means you will not be rejected today and may be accepted or WL in the future
Just got my Michigan rejection
BookwormBroker
16:10
same
RoaldDahl
16:10
@HopefullyInLawSchool: what if i already got rejected. does it mean anything
HopefullyInLawSchool
16:12
@RoaldDahl: Likely not however it could mean nothing
RoaldDahl
16:15
So if it means nothing does that mean something?
HopefullyInLawSchool
16:17
Possibly
RoaldDahl
16:26
Cool
RoaldDahl
16:26
thank you!!!! i hope it means something
pinkandblue
16:31
fart
IrishDinosaur
16:36
Mich R gang lesgooo
Did anyone else get that random get to know nova email?
HopefullyInLawSchool
17:21
Ya it was sent to all YM applicants
starfishies
17:37
Anyone get the NDLS email inviting you to apply for something even though they haven’t made a decision on your app yet
17:38
Better yet I got the email and I was rejected last month
starfishies
17:38
Wtf
starfishies
17:39
and the deadline is in like a week what is this
any cardozo movement?
BatmanBeyond
18:01
Sent a LOCI via portal, but I'm wondering if email would have gotten me a swifter response
BatmanBeyond
18:02
This whole hold/wait-list/reserve system is a headache
loci already?
BatmanBeyond
18:09
If the odds are like 1-2% I don't think it matters much by the numbers
12:11
I got the same NDLS email
OrangeThing
12:18
I think the user profiles are broken
19:29
Any word out of Notre Dame?
19:29
Only the invitation to apply for LSE
19:29
Anyone received a decision from NDLS?
19:50
when did u guys apply that just heard from umich? they havent even glanced at my app yet
0:30
how am i supposed to spy on people when profile links are broken?
Right. Broken links smh
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