Jury — in plain language

Plain language

a group of ordinary citizens chosen to listen to a trial and decide what the facts are, such as whether someone is guilty or who should win

• a group of citizens who decide a case
• the people who weigh the evidence at trial
• the panel that reaches a verdict

What to watch for

• A jury decides the facts, not the law: the judge handles legal rulings, while the jury weighs the evidence and reaches a verdict; a plain rewrite should keep this division of roles.
• A 'jury-waiver' clause means giving up the right to have a jury decide, so the case goes to a judge alone; do not read 'waiver' here as gaining a jury.
• Distinguish a trial jury (which decides a case) from a grand jury (which only decides whether to charge someone); they are different bodies with different jobs.

Jury Decides Facts, Judge Decides Law. A core division runs through every jury trial: the jury decides what happened (the facts), and the judge decides what the law is and how it applies. A plain rewrite should keep these roles separate, because readers often assume the jury "runs the trial" or rules on legal questions, which is the judge's job.

The Jury-Waiver Trap. Contracts frequently contain a clause where the parties agree to give up the right to a jury. The word "waiver" here means losing the jury, so the dispute is decided by a judge alone. A plain version must point the right way: a jury-waiver clause removes the jury, it does not provide one.

Common Misunderstandings by Non-Lawyers.

• "The jury decides the law as well as the facts." (No — the jury decides the facts; the judge decides the law.)
• "A jury-waiver clause means I'm guaranteed a jury." (The opposite — it means you give up the right to a jury.)
• "A grand jury decides if someone is guilty." (No — a grand jury only decides whether there is enough evidence to bring charges; a trial jury decides guilt.)

Legal definition

A group of ordinary citizens selected to hear the evidence at a trial and decide questions of fact — for example, whether a defendant is guilty in a criminal case or which side should win in a civil case. The jury weighs the testimony and exhibits and delivers a verdict, while the judge decides questions of law and oversees the trial. The right to a jury can be given up by agreement, and a separate body called a grand jury decides only whether there is enough evidence to charge someone with a crime.

Meanings by context

grand jury: a group that decides whether there is enough evidence to bring charges

Examples

Where you'll see it

• jury-trial and jury-waiver clauses
• criminal and civil trials
• jury-selection (voir dire)
• verdicts and deliberations

Related terms

• verdict
• juror
• voir dire
• grand jury
• jury trial

Word details

Pronunciation

JOOR-ee

Part of speech

noun

Origin

Anglo-French — from 'juree' (an oath) and Latin 'jurare' (to swear); a sworn body of people

Domains

civil procedure, criminal law, constitutional law, litigation

Frequency

very common

Formality

low