PETIT JURY Meaning and
Definition
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A petit jury, commonly known as a trial jury, refers to a group of citizens who are selected and sworn in to hear and decide the facts of a particular case in a court of law. It is one of the two types of juries in the legal system, with the other being a grand jury. The petit jury typically comprises a smaller number of jurors, usually twelve in criminal cases and six in civil cases, and is tasked with determining the guilt or innocence of the defendant or resolving a dispute between parties.
Petit jurors are chosen through a selection process, either randomly from a pool of eligible citizens or through a jury selection committee. They are expected to be impartial and unbiased, basing their decision solely on the evidence presented and the guidance provided by the judge.
During a trial, the petit jury listens to testimony, examines evidence, and weighs the credibility of witnesses to decide the facts of the case. They then deliberate in private to reach a unanimous verdict or, in some jurisdictions, a majority decision. The verdict rendered by the petit jury is final and determines the outcome of the trial, whether it is a conviction or acquittal in criminal cases or a judgment for either party in civil cases.
The concept of a petit jury plays a vital role in safeguarding the constitutional right to a fair trial, ensuring that justice is administered by a panel of peers who are representative of the community, and providing a check on the power of judges and prosecutors.
Common Misspellings for PETIT JURY
- oetit jury
- letit jury
- -etit jury
- 0etit jury
- pwtit jury
- pstit jury
- pdtit jury
- prtit jury
- p4tit jury
- p3tit jury
- perit jury
- pefit jury
- pegit jury
- peyit jury
- pe6it jury
- pe5it jury
- petut jury
- petjt jury
- petkt jury
Etymology of PETIT JURY
The word "petit jury" traces its etymology back to Old French.
The term "petit" comes from the Old French word "petit", meaning "small" or "little". The word "petit" evolved from the Latin word "pictus", which means "painted" or "decorated". In the context of a jury, "petit" refers to the fact that the jury is composed of a smaller number of jurors compared to a grand jury.
The word "jury" has its roots in Latin as well. It comes from the Latin word "jurata" or "jurare", which means "to swear" or "to take an oath". This is related to the notion that jurors swear to provide an impartial decision based on the evidence presented before them.
Similar spelling word for PETIT JURY
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