What is a Jury?

What is a Jury?

• A. A private trial with three arbitrators.
• B. A group of citizens selected from the community to hear evidence and decide a criminal or civil case. Six jurors in civil cases and some criminal cases; 12 jurors in murder cases.
• C. An agreement that resolves a dispute.
• D. An official in a court of law who keeps order.

Answer: (B)

A jury is a group of citizens selected from the community to hear evidence and decide a criminal or civil case. They are sworn to follow the judge’s instructions and to base their verdict solely on the evidence presented in court. In many civil matters, six jurors may hear the case, while murder cases typically use twelve jurors; some criminal cases also use twelve. The judge handles the legal rules and procedure, but it’s the jury that determines the facts and renders the verdict. The other descriptions refer to different things—arbitration is a private resolution by trained third parties, a settlement is an agreement to resolve a dispute, and an official who keeps order is a bailiff or court deputy—not a jury.

A jury is a group of citizens selected from the community to hear evidence and decide a criminal or civil case. They are sworn to follow the judge’s instructions and to base their verdict solely on the evidence presented in court. In many civil matters, six jurors may hear the case, while murder cases typically use twelve jurors; some criminal cases also use twelve. The judge handles the legal rules and procedure, but it’s the jury that determines the facts and renders the verdict. The other descriptions refer to different things—arbitration is a private resolution by trained third parties, a settlement is an agreement to resolve a dispute, and an official who keeps order is a bailiff or court deputy—not a jury.