Do juries issue a verdict?

The jury reports the verdict to the court, which generally accepts it. The decision of a jury is called a verdict. A jury is charged with hearing the evidence presented by both sides in a trial, determining the facts of the case, applying the relevant law to the facts, and voting on a final verdict.

Why does a jury get to decide?

The jurors are charged with the responsibility of deciding whether, on the facts of the case, a person is guilty or not guilty of the offence for which he or she has been charged. The jury must reach its verdict by considering only the evidence introduced in court and the directions of the judge.

What is a jury verdict?

Verdict: The official decision or finding of the jury which is reported to the court.

Why should we keep juries?

Trial by jury is democratic in that the community participates in a vital way before people accused of serious crime can be convicted. Juries, because they do not give reasons for their decisions, can bring the conscience of the community to bear on issues in a trial in a way that a judge cannot do.

Do juries have to give reasons for their verdicts?

No written reasons for the verdicts are required. The vast majority of juries are able to reach their verdict unanimously. In some types of cases, agreement of 11 out of 12 jurors is an acceptable verdict.

Do juries have to all agree?

Jurors are NOT required to deliver a verdict for all, some, or any charge at all that they are asked to consider. When jurors report to the judge that they cannot agree in sufficient number to deliver a verdict, the jury is said to be “deadlocked” or a “hung jury”.

What’s it called when a jury Cannot decide?

When there are insufficient jurors voting one way or the other to deliver either a guilty or not guilty verdict, the jury is known as a “hung jury” or it might be said that jurors are “deadlocked”. The judge may direct them to deliberate further, usually no more than once or twice.

What happens when the jury Cannot agree on a verdict?

The jury must return its verdict to a judge in open court. The verdict must be unanimous. If the jury cannot agree on a verdict on one or more counts, the court may declare a mistrial on those counts. The government may retry any defendant on any count on which the jury could not agree.

What is the jury’s role?

In both civil and criminal cases, it is the jury’s duty to decide the facts in accordance with the principles of law laid down in the judge’s charge to the jury. The decision is made on the evidence introduced, and the jury’s decision on the facts is usually final.

What are the pros and cons of juries?

Jury vs. Judge: Pros and Cons of Each Option

• Jury or judge?
• At a jury trial, the outcome of a case is decided by a group of law-abiding citizens.
• Jurors have more compassion than judges.
• Juries tend to be easier audiences than judges.
• Jurors can be too emotional.
• Jurors can be unpredictable.

Why are juries supposed to represent the community?

The American jury is designed to serve as an impartial fact finder in criminal and civil cases. The jury is supposed to contain a representative cross section of the community, resulting in a jury of one’s peers.