jury trial

noun

: a trial that is decided by a jury
I demand my right to a jury trial.

Examples of jury trial in a Sentence

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The pleas averted a jury trial that was scheduled to start this week in downtown Los Angeles. Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 5 Feb. 2025 But his attorney Kellie Peterson told Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Milton Hirsch that her client was pleading not guilty, then requested a jury trial. Charles Rabin, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2025 Court records state that Heidi waived a jury trial, and that a plea and sentencing hearing is scheduled for her for March 5. Ben Brachfeld, People.com, 27 Jan. 2025 Todd requested a jury trial, which began in January 2024. Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 22 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for jury trial 

Dictionary Entries Near jury trial

Cite this Entry

“Jury trial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jury%20trial. Accessed 11 Feb. 2025.

Legal Definition

jury trial

noun
: a trial in which a jury serves as the trier of fact

called also trial by jury

compare bench trial

Note: The right to a jury trial is established in the U.S. Constitution, but it is not an absolute right. The Supreme Court has stated that petty crimes (as those carrying a sentence of up to 6 months) do not require trial by jury. The right to a jury trial in a criminal case may be waived by the “express and intelligent consent” of the defendant, usually in writing, as well as, in federal cases, the approval of the court and consent of the prosecutor. There is no right to a jury trial in equity cases. When a civil case involves both legal and equitable issues or procedure, either party may demand a jury trial (and failure to do so is taken as a waiver), but the judge may find that there is no right to a jury trial because of equitable issues or claims.

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