jüri

Júri is a term used in several legal traditions to denote a jury, a panel of citizens summoned to hear evidence and determine a verdict. In common law systems, júri members act as triers of fact, separate from the judge, who applies the law. The jury's role is to assess evidence, hear witnesses, and render verdicts of guilt or liability in criminal and civil cases.

Composition and selection: Jury panels are drawn from eligible citizens by random selection. Jurors are questioned in voir dire to identify biases. Those accepted serve for the trial and may be excused for hardship. A trial may use a fixed number of jurors, commonly 12, but some systems permit smaller or larger panels and may use alternates.

Grand vs petit: Some jurisdictions employ a grand jury to decide whether there is probable cause to indict a suspect, rather than having a trial jury decide guilt. The ordinary trial jury, often called a petit jury, hears evidence and returns a verdict on the merits.

Verdict and after: Most verdicts must be based solely on evidence presented in court and the judge's instructions on the law. Verdicts are usually given after deliberation in private; in many places, unanimity is required, while others permit majority verdicts. If jurors cannot agree, a hung jury may lead to a retrial or a case dismissal.

Etymology and variations: The term júri is cognate with the English word jury and reflects a tradition of a sworn, peer-based decision. The use and structure of juries vary widely, with some legal systems relying more on professional judges and others maintaining traditional jury trials.