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Simple English definitions for legal terms
state trial
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A quick definition of state trial:
A state trial is a formal examination of evidence and legal claims in a court of law. It can be a trial with a judge or a trial with a jury. Sometimes, a trial can be divided into two stages, like for guilt and punishment. Trials can be open to the public or closed for safety reasons. A trial can also be held without the accused being present, but only if they have left voluntarily or disrupted the proceedings. A trial on the merits is a trial on the main issues of a case.A more thorough explanation:
A state trial is a formal judicial examination of evidence and determination of legal claims in an adversary proceeding. It can take different forms, such as:
- Bench trial: A trial before a judge without a jury. The judge decides questions of fact as well as questions of law.
- Jury trial: A trial in which the factual issues are determined by a jury, not by the judge.
- Bifurcated trial: A trial that is divided into two stages, such as for guilt and punishment or for liability and damages.
- Separate trial: The individual trial of each of several persons jointly accused of a crime.
For example, in a jury trial, a group of citizens is selected to hear the evidence presented by both sides and decide the outcome of the case. In a bench trial, the judge acts as both the fact-finder and the decision-maker. In a bifurcated trial, the first stage may determine guilt or liability, and the second stage may determine punishment or damages. In a separate trial, each defendant is tried individually for the same crime.
State trials are an important part of the legal system, as they provide a fair and impartial forum for resolving disputes and determining the guilt or innocence of those accused of crimes.