Verdict

Verdict is a formal finding of fact made by a jury on matters or questions submitted to the jury by a judge. The term, from the Latin veredictum, means "to say the truth" and is derived from Middle English verdit, from Anglo-French veirdit.

History

The concept of the verdict has its roots in ancient Roman law, where it was used to denote a decision made by a group of citizens in response to a question posed by a magistrate. This practice evolved over time, and by the Middle Ages, the term verdict was being used in English law to denote the formal decision or finding of a jury.

Types of Verdicts

There are several types of verdicts that can be reached in a court of law, including:

• Guilty: This verdict means that the jury has found the defendant guilty of the charges against them.
• Not guilty: This verdict means that the jury has found the defendant not guilty of the charges against them.
• Hung jury: This verdict means that the jury was unable to reach a unanimous decision.
• Directed verdict: This verdict is a ruling entered by a trial judge after determining that there is no legally sufficient evidentiary basis for a reasonable jury to reach a different conclusion.

Verdicts in Different Jurisdictions

The process and requirements for reaching a verdict can vary greatly depending on the jurisdiction. In some jurisdictions, a unanimous decision is required, while in others, a majority decision is sufficient. Some jurisdictions also allow for a verdict to be reached by a judge alone, without the need for a jury.

See Also

• Jury trial
• Judge
• Court
• Law

Verdict Resources
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