You often hear the terms “jury” and “jury duty” in criminal cases. Juries are one of the most important parts of the legal system in the country and are made up of citizens from all walks of life. Their role is to help determine whether the person accused is guilty of the crime or not. It makes you wonder, do all criminal cases have a jury? What are their roles? Here is what to know about juries and criminal cases.
The Legal Aspects of a Jury Trial
The jury is part of American law as a group brought together that focuses on the democratic right of citizens to have a chance to be judged by their fellow citizens. The right to have a jury trial is in the US Constitution according to the Sixth Amendment, which explains how crucial the jury is to determine fairness during a trial and protect the accused from unjust prosecution.
Read More: The Next Step After A Grand Jury Indictment: What Happens
What Do Juries Do?
Jurors are the fact finders of any trial, carefully listening to the testimonies, reviewing the evidence, and discussing with each other before reaching a verdict. Their decision is up for approval by the judge but still carries a lot of weight. Do all court cases have a jury? No, not all of them need a jury.
Cases can either be jury proceedings or bench trials. The ruling is entirely made by the judge during bench trials, and in most cases, these are misdemeanor cases or trials that are not very high-profile. On the other hand, a jury is selected to determine whether there is enough evidence for the case to proceed to trial.
Which Trials Require Juries?
Do all criminal cases have juries? A jury doesn’t deliberate on all criminal cases. They are, however, usually summoned for cases involving serious crimes like murder, armed robbery, and rape. Usually, there is a heavy penalty involved in such cases, so a jury trial is the best way to ensure that the outcome is impartial and that the entire trial is fair.
However, there are instances where the case doesn’t use a jury. A defendant may choose to have a judge handle the case, waiving the right to a jury, or sometimes the prosecution may feel that they have a better shot at winning with a bench trial. Lastly, it would not be possible to have a jury trial for cases involving national security.
Seek Legal Help
If you are facing any criminal charges, it is important to have a good criminal defense attorney by your side. Call Lynne Torgerson, an experienced criminal lawyer in Minneapolis, for the best possible defense.