juries

Juries are groups of citizens convened to determine questions of fact and render verdicts in civil or criminal cases. Their role is to decide guilt or liability based on the evidence presented, and to provide a check on government power by distributing the responsibility for determining fact from the state.

Composition and selection: Juries typically consist of 6 to 12 members, depending on the jurisdiction and type of case. Members are drawn from the local population and selected through a process that often includes random selection and voir dire, where potential jurors are questioned to identify bias or disqualifying circumstances. Challenges for cause and peremptory challenges allow attorneys to remove unsuitable jurors. In many criminal cases verdicts must be unanimous, while civil juries may require a majority or be unanimous depending on jurisdiction; alternates may be used to replace jurors who cannot continue.

Duties and standards: Jurors determine questions of fact and apply the law as instructed by the judge. In criminal trials the standard of proof is typically beyond a reasonable doubt; in civil cases the burden is usually a preponderance of the evidence, and sometimes clear and convincing proof. The verdict may be a finding of guilty or not guilty in criminal trials, or liable or not liable and, in many civil trials, damages.

History and variations: The jury system originated in medieval England and was adopted in many common-law jurisdictions, whereas many civil-law systems rely more on professional judges or mixed tribunals. In some places, reforms seek to reduce delays, bias, and costs, or to shift toward bench trials. Critics note issues such as complexity of evidence, juror biases, and the possibility of juror misconduct.