Legal Definitions - submission to the jury

Submission to the jury refers to the pivotal moment in a trial when the judge formally concludes the presentation phase and hands over the case to the jury for their private deliberation and decision-making. This typically occurs after all evidence has been presented by both sides, the lawyers have delivered their final arguments, and the judge has provided the jury with detailed instructions on the applicable laws and their duties. At this point, the jury retires to consider the facts and reach a verdict.

• Example 1: Criminal Theft Trial

  In a criminal trial for grand larceny, the prosecution and defense have spent days presenting witnesses, forensic evidence, and expert testimonies. After both legal teams deliver their closing arguments, the judge spends an hour explaining to the jury the legal definition of theft, the concept of reasonable doubt, and their responsibility to weigh the evidence impartially. Once these instructions are complete, the judge declares, "The case is now submitted to the jury."

  This illustrates "submission to the jury" because the judge has completed all the procedural steps of the trial, including guiding the presentation of evidence and instructing on the law. By formally submitting the case, the judge transfers the responsibility to the jury to review the facts, apply the legal principles they've learned, and decide whether the defendant is guilty or not guilty.

• Example 2: Civil Personal Injury Lawsuit

  Consider a civil lawsuit where a plaintiff is seeking damages for injuries sustained in a car accident. Over several days, the court hears testimony from medical professionals, eyewitnesses, and accident reconstruction experts. Following the closing arguments from both the plaintiff's and defendant's attorneys, the judge instructs the jury on the legal standards for negligence, causation, and how to calculate potential damages if they find the defendant liable. After these instructions, the judge states, "The case is now submitted for your deliberation."

  This is an example of "submission to the jury" because the judge has finished their role in overseeing the trial's proceedings and providing legal guidance. The jury is now tasked with applying the judge's instructions on negligence and damages to the evidence presented to determine if the defendant is responsible and, if so, what compensation, if any, the plaintiff should receive.

• Example 3: Complex Business Contract Dispute

  In a complex civil trial involving a dispute over a multi-million dollar business contract, both companies have presented extensive documentation, financial records, and testimony from executives and expert accountants over several weeks. After the final arguments from the legal teams, the judge provides detailed instructions to the jury on contract law principles, what constitutes a breach, and how to interpret the specific clauses of the agreement. Upon concluding these instructions, the judge announces, "The matter is now submitted to the jury for its verdict."

  This demonstrates "submission to the jury" as the judge has completed all judicial duties related to the trial's active phase. The responsibility for sifting through the intricate evidence, applying the judge's legal guidance on contract law, and ultimately deciding whether a breach occurred and what remedies are appropriate now rests entirely with the jury.