We know to an absolute certainty very few things in life. Therefore we all have some doubt about about almost everything. If this haunting vague doubt were to allow defendants to be found not guilty, then everyone would be not guilty. A reasonable doubt is a doubt that you can atach a sound reason to; it does not need to be an overwhelming doubt to be reasonable, just one that can be supported reasonably.
equivalent to "beyond a reasonable doubt"
The standard is proof beyond a reasonable doubt.
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?
REASONABLE DOUBT - The level of certainty a juror must have to find a defendant guilty of a crime, based upon reason and common sense and after careful and impartial consideration of all the evidence, or lack of evidence, in a case. Proof beyond a reasonable doubt, therefore, is proof of such a convincing character that you would be willing to rely and act upon it without hesitation in the most important of your own affairs. However, it does NOT mean an ABSOLUTE certainty. See: http://www.lectlaw.com/def2/q016.htm
Proof beyond reasonable doubt. But, reasonable doubt is undefined. It's greater than simply most (called the preponderance) of the evidence but that's not good enough. Beyond most of the evidence reasonable doubt is undefined. I tend to think of it as about 95% of the evidence. So, if Sally says John did it and John says he didn't, John should be found not guilty. But, if the blood type of the John and the killer is one in 100 million John should be found guilty.
In court, the defense attorney argued that the evidence presented by the prosecution did not prove the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. This raised doubts about the defendant's involvement in the crime, leading to an acquittal.
They are similar but are NOT the same. The preponderance of evidence is the standard for juries to follow in CIVIL trials. Reasonable doubt is the standard for guilt in CRIMINAL trials. NOTE: The standard is NOT beyond ALL doubt - just "'beyond REASONABLE doubt." The two sound similar but in reality they are not, and the presiding judge will instruct the jury on the difference when he gives the jury its instructions.
what is reasonable doubt
In a civil trial the standard is "preponderance of the evidence" as opposed to a criminal trials "beyond a reasonable doubt".
a lot of places
Beyond a reasonable doubt for criminal and preponderance of the evidence for civil.
Presentation of evidence and testimony to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.