What are the three verdicts a jury can give?
Asked by: Prof. Elinor Cronin | Last update: June 26, 2026Score: 4.5/5 (19 votes)
In most criminal cases, a jury can return one of three main outcomes: guilty, not guilty, or a hung jury (deadlock). These verdicts generally require a unanimous decision to convict, meaning all jurors must agree on the final outcome.
What are the three possible verdicts in a jury trial?
In a criminal jury trial, the three primary potential outcomes are a verdict of guilty, a verdict of not guilty (acquittal), or a hung jury (mistrial). These outcomes dictate whether the defendant is convicted, acquitted, or if the case requires a new trial due to a lack of consensus.
What are three possible outcomes of a case?
A case outcome refers to how the case is resolved in court. Case outcomes include Dismissal or Withdrawal, Diversion, a Guilty verdict, a Guilty plea, or an Acquittal (Not Guilty verdict). Except in the case of Acquittal, any outcome is subject to change through Refile, Reconsideration, or Appeal.
What are the three verdicts?
There are three verdicts you can return on any charge: guilty, • not guilty, or • not proven. Not guilty and not proven are verdicts of acquittal and have exactly the same effect.
What are the possible jury verdicts?
Verdicts may be either general or specific. A general verdict is that in which the jury pronounces “guilty” or “not guilty” and thus decides whether the plaintiff or the defendant wins the case. A general verdict is the verdict most often rendered in criminal cases.
Breaking down 3 high-profile cases in front of juries
What are the three types of verdicts?
California courts accept three types of verdict forms: general verdicts, special verdicts, and general verdicts with special interrogatories. (See Code Civ. Proc., §§ 624, 625; Fed. Rules Civ.
What if a juror falls asleep?
If a juror falls asleep, the judge will typically wake them up, offer a break, or instruct them to pay attention. If the sleeping is severe or disruptive, the judge may replace the juror with an alternative. If the sleeping is not addressed and causes the juror to miss key testimony, it can lead to a mistrial, though this is rare.
What are the 3 C's of criminal justice?
When defining the core components of the American criminal justice system, the "three Cs" refers to Cops (law enforcement), Courts (the judicial system), and Corrections (prisons, jails, probation, and parole). These three pillars work independently and collaboratively to investigate crimes, adjudicate cases, and manage offender rehabilitation.
What should you never say to a judge?
Never say "you're lying," "you didn't read my papers," or make sarcastic, argumentative comments to a judge. Avoid using casual slang, interrupting, or telling the judge "whatever". Always maintain a respectful, formal tone by saying "Your Honor," rather than "sir" or "ma'am".
What is a list of possible outcomes?
The sample space is the set of all possible outcomes of a random phenomenon.
What is the golden rule in jury trials?
During a jury trial, an attempt to persuade the jurors to put themselves in the place of the victim or the injured person and deliver the verdict that they would wish to receive if they were in that person's position.
Why does Juror 3 vote guilty?
'' Juror 3 is holding to his convictions because of his situation with his son. He is so hurt by what his son did that he wants to see the teenage boy sentenced to death. When he realizes this, the others convince him to change his vote.
What is the three verdict system?
n Scotland, for hundreds of years, juries have chosen between three criminal verdicts: “guilty,” “not guilty,” and “not proven.” The “not proven” verdict's legal meaning remains mysterious.
Who is most likely to get dismissed from jury duty?
5 Reasons People Are Excused From Jury Duty
- Economic Hardship. One of the more common reasons people are excused from jury duty is because serving on the jury presents that person with an economic hardship. ...
- Personal Opinions. ...
- Felony Conviction. ...
- Family Issues. ...
- Physical/Mental Disabilities.
What are two things jurors should never do?
Don'ts
- Lose your temper, try to bully, or refuse to listen to the opinions of other jurors.
- Mark or write on exhibits or otherwise change or damage them.
- Try to guess what might happen if the case you have heard is appealed.
What are the three possible outcomes of a jury trial?
In most criminal cases, a jury can return one of three main outcomes: guilty, not guilty, or a hung jury (deadlock). These verdicts generally require a unanimous decision to convict, meaning all jurors must agree on the final outcome.
What are the possible verdicts from the jury?
Possible verdicts in criminal cases are guilty or not guilty. In a civil suit, the jury will find for the plaintiff or the defendant.
What if I cry during jury duty?
Crying alone may not be juror misconduct. But there are circumstances where a juror's emotions may result in an unfair trial.
Has anyone gone to jail for ignoring jury duty?
A jury summons is a court order, and skipping it without a valid excuse can lead to fines, contempt of court, and in rare cases, jail time. Most judges won't throw you in jail for missing once, but repeated no-shows or lying to get out of jury duty can escalate fast.