Trial by jury is a core part of civic life because it lets ordinary people help decide important legal questions. Instead of leaving every decision to government officials, a jury brings community judgment into the courtroom. In criminal cases, this process helps protect the rights of the accused by requiring the government to prove its case.
In civil cases, juries can help resolve disputes between people, organizations, or the government.
Key Facts
- A trial jury listens to evidence during a trial and decides facts, such as whether a defendant is guilty or liable.
- A grand jury decides whether there is enough evidence to formally charge someone with a serious crime, but it does not decide guilt.
- In most serious criminal trials in the United States, the prosecution must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
- Many criminal jury verdicts must be unanimous, meaning all jurors agree on the verdict.
- Jury selection uses questioning called voir dire to help choose fair and impartial jurors.
- The Sixth Amendment protects the right to a speedy and public trial by an impartial jury in criminal cases.
Vocabulary
- Trial jury
- A group of citizens chosen to hear evidence in a trial and decide the facts of the case.
- Grand jury
- A group of citizens that reviews evidence to decide whether criminal charges should be brought.
- Voir dire
- The jury selection process in which potential jurors are questioned to check for fairness and bias.
- Verdict
- The official decision a jury gives at the end of a trial.
- Unanimous
- A decision is unanimous when every juror agrees on the same outcome.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Confusing a grand jury with a trial jury, because a grand jury decides whether charges may proceed while a trial jury decides facts after hearing a full trial.
- Assuming jurors decide the law, because jurors decide the facts while the judge explains the law and courtroom rules.
- Thinking the accused must prove innocence, because in criminal cases the government has the burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
- Ignoring jury selection, because voir dire is essential for removing biased jurors and protecting the right to an impartial jury.
Practice Questions
- 1 A court calls 60 potential jurors for a criminal trial. After questioning, 12 are seated as jurors and 2 are seated as alternates. How many potential jurors were not seated?
- 2 A jury has 12 members and a unanimous verdict is required. If 11 jurors vote guilty and 1 juror votes not guilty, has the jury reached a unanimous guilty verdict? Explain with numbers.
- 3 Explain why trial by jury can protect fairness better than a system in which only a government official decides whether an accused person is guilty.