The states that expressly encourage judges to allow jurors to question witnesses are Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Nevada and North Carolina. Out of these jurisdictions, Arizona, Florida, and Kentucky require that judges allow jurors to ask written questions. The respective highest state courts of Indiana and Kentucky have ruled jurors have a right to ask questions of witnesses.
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It describes the attempt by the defendant (or persons associated with the defendant) to influence the jury sitting on the defendant's trial.
No. A jury is not required for all criminal cases. A defendant can plead guilty or no contest and simply appear before a judge. A defendant can also wave his right to a jury trial and have the trial in front of a judge. A defendant simply has the right to a jury trial in most criminal cases in The United States. There may be a few misdemeanor cases where the penalty is small fine where he is not entitled to a jury trial.
In a jury trial - by a jury of his peers. If the defendant choses a Bench Trial then he will be judged by the Judge.
In states which do not use the Grand Jury system there is no "indictment," the defendant is simply "formally charged" with the offense by the prosecutor. .
The jury does not decide what punishment the defendant gets, the judge does. The only thing the jury decides is whether the defendant is guilty or not guilty of what he is accused of.
Both parties choose the jury. In many cases prospective jurors will be asked to answer a series of questions. Both sides can then interview jurors and each gets to reject or accept them.
A double jury is a trail with one defendant and two juries.
A petit jury in a criminal trial decides whether or not a defendant is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The other type of jury, the Grand Jury, decides whether or not there is sufficient evidence to bring charges against a defendant prior to the trial. It does not decide whether or not the defendant is guilty. Therefore the Grand Jury is not bound by the standard of beyond a reasonable doubt.
No, the defendant is being tried on the charge that is before the jury, and the past history of the defendant does not, and should not be applied.
Scout can tell when a jury has found a defendant guilty if the jury foreman announces the verdict in court in front of everyone present, including the defendant, lawyers, judge, and spectators. The judge will then typically set a date for sentencing.
Means that the Grand Jury declined, or failed, to indict the defendant.
Yes. A defendant can usually can choose to have a jury. Some states however have a minimum amount below which there can not be a jury. The break off point varies. In some states it is no jail time. In others it is below $ 2,500. You will need to check for your state.