The word "jury" has a relatively straightforward spelling, with four letters that match their corresponding phonemes: /dʒ/ for the "j" sound, /ʊ/ for the "u" sound, and /r/ for the "r" sound. The final "y" is a bit trickier, representing either the sound /i/ as in "jury" or /ɪ/ as in "juror." Regardless of its variability, "jury" is an important term in the legal world, referring to a group of citizens sworn to make a decision in a trial.
Jury:
A jury refers to a group of individuals who are selected and sworn in to hear evidence and declarative statements during a trial and to give a verdict based on that information. Typically, a jury is composed of a specific number of men and women from the community, who are selected to ensure a cross-section representation of society.
The primary purpose of a jury is to assess and determine the facts and issues in a legal case. It plays a crucial role in the justice system by providing impartial judgment and safeguarding against biased decisions or unjust outcomes. Jurors listen to testimony, review evidence, and carefully consider all relevant information before rendering a decision. To ensure fairness, jurors are expected to be objective, unbiased, and free from any prejudices.
Juries can be found in both civil and criminal trials, with their role differing slightly based on the nature of the case. A jury's verdict is generally determined by the majority opinion, either through a unanimous or majority rule, as dictated by the respective legal system.
The concept of a jury traces its origins to ancient Greece and Rome, and it has been widely adopted by numerous legal systems around the world. The inclusion of a jury aims to provide a fair, democratic, and transparent method for resolving disputes or determining guilt or innocence. The participation and deliberations of a jury are protected by legal safeguards to maintain integrity and uphold principles of justice.
In a court of law, a certain number of men selected and sworn to declare the truth on the evidence placed before them. Note.-A grand jury consists of not more than 23, a petty or special jury of 12; in Scot., generally of 15.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "jury" comes from Old French "juri(e)" or "jurée", which ultimately traces back to Latin "jurata" meaning "oath". In the Middle Ages, a "jury" referred to a group of individuals who would take an oath to give a true verdict in a legal proceeding. Over time, "jury" came to specifically denote a group of people who are selected to decide the outcome of a trial.