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If the entire jury agrees that reasonable doubt exists, they will bring an acquittal or "not guilty" verdict. If, however, only some of the jury can be convinced, a "hung jury" usually results, that is a jury that cannot decide on acquittal or conviction. Occasionally, some of the members of a jury may feel there is reasonable doubt that exists and feel that the charges brought cannot be successfully prosecuted, but that evidence does exist for some sort of conviction and in the event lesser charges can be decided upon, will bring a verdict on the lesser charges. Each state in the US is slightly different.
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If a jury has a reasonable doubt about the defendant's guilt the jury must acquit?
Yes. The State must prove beyond a reasonable doubt each element of the crime charged. If the has a reasonable doubt, then the State has not met the burden of proof required to convict and the jury must acquit. That is the American system.
What type of jury decides the fate of a defendant beyond a reasonable doubt?
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.
Why was OJ Simpson found not guilty?
Because the jury had 'reasonable doubt'.
The jury is instructed by the judge to declare the defendant not guilty if there is any what?
REASONABLE doubt.
What are some ways that a defense attorney can try to establish reasonable doubt?
Convince enough members of a jury that they should have reasonable doubt about the facts of the case as the district attorney has presented them.
Use Reasonable doubt in a sentence?
This is a standard of proof needed in a court of law. You must prove beyond reasonable doubt that someone is guilty for them to be convicted. Here are a couple of sentences.Reasonable doubt is the highest standard of proof in a court.Have you proved beyond reasonable doubt that my client is guilty?
To convict a person of a crime a court must find the person guilty by?
A judge or jury must reach the decision that the defendant is guilty beyond a REASONABLE doubt. Not beyond ALL doubt - just "reasonable" doubt.
What most the jury do to convict the criminal?
They must determine that the state has proven it's case beyond a reasonable doubt.
What does the term reasonable doubt mean in reference to a criminal trial?
Reasonable doubt means not being sure of a criminal defendant's guilt to a moral certainty. A member of the jury must be convinced of the defendant’s guilt.
What happens during the cross-examination?
The defense tries to create doubt in the minds of the jury.
What happens during the cross examination?
The defense tries to create doubt in the minds of the jury.
What happens during cross-examination?
The defense tries to create doubt in the minds of the jury.
