Jurors {jury, law}| independently judge cases, based solely on evidence presented in court. At trial conclusions, judges give instructions to juries, telling jurors law, case nature, what they must decide, and on which basis to decide. Jury trials require 12 peers of petit jury to unanimously judge innocence or guilt. Grand juries meet to determine who committed crimes.
Lawyers have right to object to juror selections {challenge, juror}|.
Judges give instructions in law to juries {charge the jury}|, before juries retire to deliberate cases.
Petit-jury verdicts must be unanimous, so jurors usually must compromise. If all jurors cannot agree on verdict {hung jury}|, court suspends case.
Jurors {juror}| must be between 21 and 70 years old, be in good health, be sane, and be reasonably intelligent. They must have no felonies or misdemeanors involving moral turpitude. Jurors must not belong to radical parties. Government officials and professionals, including journalists, are exempt from jury duty.
Courts draw up veniremen {jury selection}.
Courts list possible jurors {veniremen} for trials.
Juries have private discussions to try to determine guilt or innocence {verdict}|. Petit-jury verdicts must be unanimous, so jurors usually must compromise.
Lawyers question possible jurors {voir dire}| about case, to see if they have prior knowledge, personal prejudice, or relation to people involved, which can cause disqualification.
After hearing evidence from state prosecutors and deciding if evidence is sufficient to charge people with crimes, sworn groups {grand jury}| can make indictments.
At trial, twelve or less people {petit jury}| {petty jury} decide civil cases and award damages or decide criminal cases.
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Date Modified: 2022.0225