Legal Definitions - veredictum

Veredictum is a historical Latin term that refers to what we now commonly call a "verdict." In historical legal contexts, it was the formal declaration made by a jury, stating their finding on the truth of the facts presented to them during a trial. Essentially, it was the jury's decision on the matter in dispute, based on the evidence and arguments heard during the proceedings.

• Example 1 (Historical Criminal Case): Imagine a trial in 18th-century England where a man was accused of highway robbery. After listening to witness testimonies, examining physical evidence, and hearing arguments from both the prosecution and defense, the twelve jurors retired to deliberate. Their final pronouncement, declaring the accused "not guilty," would have been recorded as the veredictum. This declaration represented their collective judgment on the truth of the accusation, finding insufficient evidence to prove guilt.

• Example 2 (Historical Civil Dispute): Consider a land dispute in a medieval European court, where two noble families were arguing over the rightful ownership of a valuable forest. A jury of local landowners and respected citizens was assembled to hear the claims, review ancient charters, and listen to expert testimony. When the jury ultimately announced that the forest rightfully belonged to the House of Valois, their decision was the veredictum, establishing what they believed to be the factual truth of ownership based on the evidence presented.

• Example 3 (General Historical Application): In ancient Roman legal proceedings that utilized a jury-like body (such as a panel of *judices*), if a merchant sued another for breach of contract, the panel would weigh the evidence of agreements and transactions. Their ultimate finding, perhaps declaring that the contract had indeed been broken and damages were owed, would serve as the veredictum – their formal declaration of the truth regarding the contractual obligations and their violation.