jury trial

noun

: a trial that is decided by a jury
I demand my right to a jury trial.

Examples of jury trial in a Sentence

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Legal battle The first case in Union County Superior Court was a jury trial. Briah Lumpkins, Charlotte Observer, 17 Apr. 2025 The wife of a renowned hairdresser was found guilty of his murder in California, concluding a 10-week jury trial, county officials said. Jonathan Limehouse, USA Today, 12 Apr. 2025 The two parties are set to begin a jury trial in spring next year. Reuters, CNN Money, 10 Apr. 2025 With the lawsuit, Poole and Cartwright’s father, Michael Cartwright, demand a jury trial. Julia Marnin, Sacbee.com, 2 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for jury trial

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“Jury trial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jury%20trial. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

Legal Definition

jury trial

noun
: a trial in which a jury serves as the trier of fact

called also trial by jury

compare bench trial

Note: The right to a jury trial is established in the U.S. Constitution, but it is not an absolute right. The Supreme Court has stated that petty crimes (as those carrying a sentence of up to 6 months) do not require trial by jury. The right to a jury trial in a criminal case may be waived by the “express and intelligent consent” of the defendant, usually in writing, as well as, in federal cases, the approval of the court and consent of the prosecutor. There is no right to a jury trial in equity cases. When a civil case involves both legal and equitable issues or procedure, either party may demand a jury trial (and failure to do so is taken as a waiver), but the judge may find that there is no right to a jury trial because of equitable issues or claims.

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