The Idea of Trial By Jury

Trial by jury, also referred to as jury trial is a type of system in which an individual accused of a crime is brought to trial, in order to decide the guilt or innocence of the individual. In the United States, trial by jury is the preferred method of dealing with criminal trials. A criminal trial is one in which there has been a crime committed; it can be a burglary, murder, abduction, or various other types. Before a trial can be put forth, there is a hearing regarding admissible evidence that can be used in the court; if there is sufficient evidence the jury trial can be pushed forward; if no, the trial is thrown out until more evidence is gathered. In a jury trial, the defendant enters a plea of either guilty or innocent; the judge is the individual who presides over the court, however, the judge is merely the facilitator there to insure that both parties: the prosecution and the defense, are conducting the proceedings under their legal rights. The power of conviction is in the hands of a jury in a jury trial. The jury is made up of randomly selected individuals that have no connection or vested interest in the case previous to the trial. However, once selected, these individuals must sit throughout the duration of the trial, and make notes of the evidence presented. Once both parties have argued all valid points, and witnesses have testified, the jury makes the final decision regarding guilt or innocence.