veredicto

Veredicto is a term used in Spanish-language legal contexts to denote the formal decision reached by a jury at the conclusion of a trial. In criminal cases, the veredicto declares the defendant guilty or not guilty; in civil cases, it determines liability or responsibility for the claims brought by the plaintiff. In some jurisdictions, the term is used equivalently to the English “verdict,” while in others it may be distinguished from the judge’s final ruling, known as a sentence or fallo.

Etymology: The word comes from Latin veredictum, formed from verus “true” and dicere “to say,” originally meaning a declaration of truth.

Usage and scope: A veredicto reflects the jury’s determination of disputed facts, subject to the applicable standard of proof. In criminal trials, the standard is typically beyond a reasonable doubt and the veredicto often requires unanimity, though some systems permit majority verdicts. In civil trials, the standard is usually a preponderance of the evidence or other civil standards, and verdicts may be by majority or unanimity depending on the jurisdiction. A hung jury can result in a mistrial, requiring a new trial.

Process and form: After evidence is presented and closing arguments, the jury deliberates and delivers the verdict, sometimes in writing and read aloud in court. Some trials employ a “special verdict” that answers specific factual questions for the judge to apply the law to.

Notes: In Spanish-speaking contexts, veredicto commonly translates the English verdict and appears in reporting on trial outcomes; in some jurisdictions, other terms such as sentencia or fallo are used for the court’s final ruling.