Verdict

Share This
« Back to Glossary Index

A verdict is a decision that a jury or judge reaches at the end of a civil or criminal trial

Civil Verdicts

In a civil matter between a plaintiff and defendant, the verdict will state which of the two parties prevailed. If the plaintiff prevails, the verdict includes an award of monetary damages. In the case of a verdict in favor of the defendant, there is no award because the plaintiff lost the case.

Criminal Verdicts

Criminal verdicts will either be guilty as charged or not guilty, called an acquittal.

Where No Verdict Is Reached – Hung Jury

If the jury cannot reach a verdict, the matter will end in a mistrial, and the case must be retried.

Related Articles

Jury Verdicts & Post-Trial Motions

March 23, 2021
Criminal Jury Instructions, Deliberation, Verdicts And Outcomes To understand jury verdicts, we must also understand jury instructions. Jury instructions are the formal written directives the judge will use to inform the jury of the law in the case and the many rules on what the jury can and cannot do in reaching their verdict. Reading…
Read more →

Criminal Sentencing

March 23, 2021
At the sentencing hearing, both the prosecutor and defense counsel will have reviewed the probation report and supporting documents and statements. Counsel will present their respective sentencing arguments to the court. The offender will also be present. The defense will argue there are mitigating circumstances supporting a reduced sentence, while the prosecution will argue there are aggravating factors to support an enhanced sentence.
Read more →

Federal Criminal Appeal Process: A Step-by-Step Guide

March 23, 2021
Once convicted of a crime in a federal district court, your lawyer may determine there are viable grounds to appeal the conviction based on a court error of law. There are precise procedural rules your lawyer must follow to secure your right to appeal.   This article provides a summary of a very complex legal procedure.…
Read more →

How to Prepare For Prison

March 23, 2021
Perhaps there is no more significant type of trouble than the one leading to prison. If you've been to prison before, you probably know what to expect and how to prepare for prison. But, if you have not been to prison, the idea of being locked up will likely cause confusion and extreme anxiety. People…
Read more →

Affiliate disclosure

GotTrouble.org is a one-stop free and open consumer information and expert resource.

Our information helps guide people through the complexity of life-changing legal, financial, and emotional challenges.

One way of doing this is by providing our visitors with a wide range of third-party resources. Some of which are affiliates.

Should you visit an affiliate, we will disclose this fact, and we may earn a commission. We ask that you use your independent judgment in deciding whether an offered service or product fits your needs and purposes.

If you have questions, please get in touch with us at inquiries@GotTrouble.org.

Sponsors