What is verdict in legal terms?
Asked by: Delilah McGlynn | Last update: September 8, 2025Score: 5/5 (27 votes)
A verdict is the formal decision or judgment rendered by a court at the conclusion of a trial or legal proceeding. It represents the culmination of the entire legal process. Verdicts are reached by a judge or a jury , depending on the type of trial and jurisdiction .
What does verdict mean in law?
verdict. n. the decision of a jury after a trial, which must be accepted by the trial judge to be final.
Does verdict mean result?
Verdict is a legal term. It means an opinion , judgement or a decision on a fact of issue in civil or criminal case or an inquest. a “ not out “ a verdict from umpire. Result - a conclusion , end which is obtained by a process or procedure , consequence , effect , final score in a game.
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.
What is the difference between a verdict and a decision?
If the judge tries the case, the judge's decision is called a judgment. If a jury tries the case, the jury's decision is called a verdict. In determining the defendant's guilt or innocence, the judge or jury can consider only the testimony or witnesses and any evidence admitted during the trial.
Understanding "Appeal a Verdict": A Guide to Legal Terms
What happens after a verdict?
What's next? If the jury found the defendant guilty or the defendant pled guilty, the next step is sentencing. This may happen shortly after the trial or a week to months later.
What happens if a jury cannot agree on a verdict?
If the jury cannot agree on a verdict on one or more counts, the court may declare a mistrial on those counts. A hung jury does not imply either the defendant's guilt or innocence. The government may retry any defendant on any count on which the jury could not agree."
Can a judge overrule a jury?
A judge will issue a JNOV if he or she determines that no reasonable jury could have reached the jury's verdict based on the evidence presented at trial, or if the jury incorrectly applied the law in reaching its verdict.
What is an example of a verdict?
The verdict was not guilty. Do you want my verdict on the meal? The jury reached a guilty verdict.
Is a verdict civil or criminal?
One major difference between civil cases and criminal cases is that in civil cases, only 10 of the 12 jurors need reach the same decision to render a result. In criminal cases the decision must be unanimous. The final decision of the jury is called the verdict.
What is a judge's final decision called?
Judgment: A court decision. Also called a decree or an order.
What is a simple word for verdict?
a position or opinion or judgment reached after consideration. synonyms: conclusion, decision, determination. types: predetermination. a mental determination or resolve in advance; an antecedent intention to do something.
Does a judge have a say in the verdict?
In federal court, the jury decides the verdict. It's the judge's job to act as referee, ruling on issues of law before and during the trial. Federal judges keep up to date on many laws and rules such as: Federal Laws.
Is a verdict a final judgment?
Oftentimes, a judgment can include a verdict. A verdict alone is not the final statement made by the court, and does not completely conclude the trial. A judgment, however, will conclude the entire trial.
What is an unjust verdict?
a manifestly unjust verdict; not true to the evidence. finding of fact, verdict. (law) the findings of a jury on issues of fact submitted to it for decision; can be used in formulating a judgment.
Is a guilty verdict a conviction?
In United States practice, conviction means a finding of guilt (i.e., a jury verdict or finding of fact by the judge) and imposition of sentence.
What kind of trial has no jury?
bench trial. Bench trial refers to the type of trial that does not involve a jury but is conducted by the judge alone, in which the judge both decides the facts of the case and applies the law .
What are the 3 possible verdicts of a court case?
- Not guilty (meaning obvious)
- Guilty (meaning obvious)
- Not proven.
- Not guilty (special circumstances)
- Guilty (special circumstances)
What is a true verdict?
the verdict where each juror has duly considered the case and come to their own conclusion without any persuasion or outside influences.
What happens if one juror disagrees?
If even one member of the jury panel disagrees with the rest, the jury is hung, and the defendant retains the presumption of innocence.
Can a guilty verdict be overturned?
Even after a defendant is found guilty, they can appeal to the Circuit Court if the defendant believes they were wrongly convicted or the sentence was too harsh. An appeal is not another trial but an opportunity for the defendant to try to raise specific errors that might have occurred at trial.
What happens if a judge doesn't agree with the jury?
In any trial the judge is the ultimate decision maker and has the power to overturn a jury verdict if there is insufficient evidence to support that verdict or if the decision granted inadequate compensatory damages.
Why do all jurors have to agree?
The need for accuracy, representativeness and public confidence in verdicts all argue for the unanimity standard in civil cases. In deference to local variation on this question, the [ABA] proposes that, in no case should a verdict be accepted that is concurred in by less than five-sixths of the jurors.
Who benefits most from a hung jury?
In some cases, the defense may benefit from a hung jury if it suggests that the evidence against the defendant is not strong enough to convince all 12 jurors of their guilt. On the other hand, the prosecution may benefit from a hung jury if it suggests that the case is still strong enough to pursue a retrial.
What can be done if someone doesn't agree with a verdict?
The defendant may appeal a guilty verdict, but the government may not appeal if a defendant is found not guilty. Either side in a criminal case may appeal with respect to the sentence that is imposed after a guilty verdict.