Dictionary of Law
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verdict :: legal definition


Verdict - n. the decision of a jury after a trial, which must be accepted by the trial judge to be final. A judgment by a judge sitting without a jury is not a verdict. A "special verdict" is a decision by the jury on the factual questions in the case, leaving the application of the law to those facts to the judge, who makes the final judgment. A "directed verdict" is a decision following an instruction by the judge that the jury can only bring in a specific verdict ("based on the evidence you must bring in a verdict of 'not guilty'"). A "chance verdict" (decided by lot or the flip of a coin), a "compromise verdict" (based on some jurors voting against their beliefs to break a deadlock) and a "quotient verdict" (averaging the amount each juror wants to award) are all improper and will result in a mistrial (having the verdict thrown out by the judge) or be cause for reversal of the judgment on appeal.

See also: compromise verdict directed verdict judgment quotient verdict special verdict and Related Law Terms ↓


Related Law Terms

abuse of discretion :: n. a polite way of saying a trial judge has made s ... partner's realistic ability to pay.
acquit :: v. what a jury or judge sitting without a jury doe ... ndant not guilty. See also: verdict
admissible evidence :: n. evidence which the trial judge finds is useful ... olving violence. See also: evidence
appeal :: 1) v. to ask a higher court to reverse the decisio ... ng, as in "he has filed an appeal."
bias :: n. the predisposition of a judge, arbitrator, pros ... ire. See also: hometowned voir dire
bifurcate :: v. the order or ruling of a judge that one issue i ... is necessary. See also: bifurcation
challenge :: n. the right of each attorney in a jury trial to r ... ess. See also: peremptory challenge
charge :: n. 1) in a criminal case, the specific statement o ... trial judge. 3) a fee for services.
compromise verdict :: n. a decision made by a jury in which the jurors s ... ning the verdict. See also: verdict
conclusion :: n. 1) in general, the end. 2) in a trial, when all ... onclusion of fact conclusion of law
conclusion of fact :: n. in a trial, the final result of an analysis of ... quested. See also: finding judgment
conclusion of law :: n. a judge's final decision on a question of law w ... aw if requested. See also: judgment
consent decree :: n. an order of a judge based upon an agreement, al ... he same. See also: consent judgment
constitutional rights :: n. rights given or reserved to the people by the U ... e also: Bill of Rights constitution
court :: n. 1) the judge, as in "The court rules in favor o ... cost and wait of full court trials.
cross-examination :: n. the opportunity for the attorney (or an unrepre ... examination testimony trial witness
dictum :: n. Latin for "remark," a comment by a judge in a d ... cta)." See also: dicta obiter dicta
directed verdict :: n. a verdict by a jury based on the specific direc ... element judgment jury trial verdict
dismiss :: v. the ruling by a judge that all or a portion (on ... nst that party. See also: dismissal
examination :: n. 1) the questioning of a witness by an attorney. ... irect examination testimony witness
fact :: n. an actual thing or happening, which must be pro ... dge if he/she sits without a jury).
fact finder (finder of fact) :: n. in a trial of a lawsuit or criminal prosecution ... n facts. See also: question of fact
finding :: n. the determination of a factual question vital ( ... e case. See also: conclusion of law
Grand Jury :: n. a jury in each county or federal court district ... arge indictment preliminary hearing
harmless error :: n. an error by a judge in the conduct of a trial w ... ar to be harmless." See also: error
hearing :: n. any proceeding before a judge or other magistra ... e hearing preliminary hearing trial
hearsay rule :: n. the basic rule that testimony or documents whic ... interest dying declaration hearsay
hung jury :: n. slang for a hopelessly deadlocked jury in a cri ... also: dismissal jury mistrial trial
impaneling :: n. the act of selecting a jury from the list of po ... e juror jury panel venire voir dire
indictment :: n. a charge of a felony (serious crime) voted by a ... ictable offense preliminary hearing
information :: n. an accusation or criminal charge brought by the ... Jury indictment preliminary hearing
insanity :: n. mental illness of such a severe nature that a p ... M'Naughten rule temporary insanity
joint and several :: adj. referring to a debt or a judgment for neglige ... ution contributory negligence joint
joint custody :: n. in divorce actions, a decision by the court (of ... em. See also: child custody divorce
judgment notwithstanding the verdict :: (N.O.V.) n. reversal of a jury's verdict by the tr ... veredicto. See also: N.O.V. verdict
judicial discretion :: n. the power of the judge to make decisions on som ... iscretion beyond his/her authority.
juror :: n. any person who actually serves on a jury. Lists ... : Grand Jury jury jury panel venire
jury :: n. one of the remarkable innovations of the Englis ... hallenge sequester venire voir dire
jury fees :: n. the rather minimal amount paid each day to juro ... ees as a court cost. See also: jury
jury panel :: n. the list from which jurors for a particular tri ... may be chosen. See also: juror jury
jury trial :: n. a trial of a lawsuit or criminal prosecution in ... the final judgment. See also: jury
libel :: 1) n. to publish in print (including pictures), wr ... libel per se public figure slander
malpractice :: n. An act or continuing conduct of a professional ... eed. See also: errors and omissions
mistrial :: n. the termination of a trial before its normal co ... from the beginning. See also: trial
moral certainty :: n. in a criminal trial, the reasonable belief (but ... : beyond a reasonable doubt verdict
motion for a new trial :: n. a request made by the loser for the case to be ... hstanding the verdict motion N.O.V.
motion for a summary judgment :: n. a written request for a judgment in the moving ... strict procedures. See also: motion
motion to strike :: n. a request for a judge's order to eliminate all ... be unrung." See also: motion strike
N.O.V. :: adj. shorthand acronym of Latin for non obstante v ... notwithstanding the verdict verdic
non-suit :: n. a ruling by the judge in a lawsuit either when ... the defendant. See also: dismissal
not guilty :: n. 1) plea of a person who claims not to have comm ... t guilty by reason of insanity plea
not guilty by reason of insanity :: n. plea in court of a person charged with a crime ... fense not guilty temporary insanity
objection :: n. a lawyer's protest about the legal propriety of ... ng question object overrule sustain
on the merits :: adj. referring to a judgment, decision or ruling o ... s if this mistake had not occurred.
open court :: n. the conduct of judicial proceedings (trials, he ... which are usually held in chambers.
order :: 1) n. every direction or mandate of a judge or a c ... defendant. See also: judge judgment
peremptory challenge :: n. the right of the plaintiff and the defendant in ... challenge for cause jury voir dire
plea :: n. 1) in criminal law, the response by an accused ... raignment plead preliminary hearing
preliminary hearing :: n. in criminal law, a hearing to determine if a pe ... nment charge Grand Jury information
proof :: n. confirmation of a fact by evidence. In a trial, ... doubt preponderance of the evidence
quotient verdict :: n. an award of money damages set by a jury in a la ... rial motion for a new trial verdict
reasonable doubt :: n. not being sure of a criminal defendant's guilt ... also: preponderance of the evidence
record :: 1) v. (ree-cored) to put a document into the offic ... eeding race to the courthouse trial
sealed verdict :: n. the decision of a jury when there is a delay in ... reconvenes. See also: jury verdict
sentence :: 1) n. the punishment given to a person convicted o ... ence restitution suspended sentence
specific finding :: n. a decision on a fact made by a jury in its verd ... so forth. See also: special verdict
stare decisis :: : (stah-ree duh-sigh-sis) n. Latin for "to stand b ... pellate court lower court precedent
strike :: 1) v. to remove a statement from the record of the ... ing the business, factory or store.
summary adjudication of issues :: n. a court order ruling that certain factual issue ... is made. See also: summary judgment
trial :: n. the examination of facts and law presided over ... at a hearing held at a later time.
trier of fact :: n. the judge or jury responsible for deciding fact ... r referee may be the trier of fact.
voir dire :: (vwahr [with a near-silent "r"] deer) n. from Fren ... t witness jury peremptory challenge
witness stand :: n. a chair at the end of the judge's bench on the ... estimony clearly. See also: witness
writ of coram nobis :: : (writ of core-uhm noh-bis) n. from Latin for "in ... ment if known at the time of trial.

Popular Law Searches

legal definition ministerial act :: n. an act, particularly of a governmental employee ... exercising any individual judgment.
chancery legal definition :: n. a court that can order acts performed. Today ch ... ts in most states. See also: equity
testamentary disposition legal definition :: n. how the terms of a will divide the testator's ( ... named beneficiaries. See also: will
contract of sufferance :: n. a "hold-over" tenancy after a lease has expired ... y tenancy at will unlawful detainer
forthwith legal definition :: adv. a term found in contracts, court orders and s ... mediacy, with no excuses for delay.
forthwith definition legal :: adv. a term found in contracts, court orders and s ... mediacy, with no excuses for delay.
what is to wit in a legal contract :: prep. that is to say. Example: "the passengers in ... tty Bumgartner and Sherry Younger."
mirror wills legal definition :: n. the wills of a husband and wife which are ident ... d each names the other as executor.
clean hands doctrine latin :: n. a rule of law that a person coming to court wit ... ices. See also: affirmative defense
sine qua non only relates to contract law :: (see-nay kwah nahn) prep. Latin for "without which ... qua non of the injury to Playmate.

Other Law Terms - V

vacate :: v. 1) for a judge to set aside or annul an order o ... of real estate and cease occupancy.
vagrancy :: n. moving about without a means to support oneself ... ue of "loitering." See also: loiter
valuable consideration :: n. a necessary element of a contract, which confer ... t. See also: consideration contract
variance :: n. 1) an exception to a zoning ordinance, authoriz ... process." See also: dismissal proof
vehicular manslaughter :: n. the crime of causing the death of a human being ... gence manslaughter reckless driving
vendee :: n. a buyer, particularly of real property. ... yer, particularly of real property.
vendor :: n. a seller, particularly of real property. ... ler, particularly of real property.
venire :: (ven-eer-ay) n. the list from which jurors may be ... y be selected. See also: jury panel
venue :: n. 1) the proper or most convenient location for t ... ion. See also: forum non conveniens
verdict :: n. the decision of a jury after a trial, which mus ... nt quotient verdict special verdict
verification :: n. the declaration under oath or upon penalty of p ... ed. See also: answer complaint oath
vest :: v. to give an absolute right to title or ownership ... . See also: vested vested remainder
vested :: adj. referring to having an absolute right or titl ... ed. See also: vest vested remainder
vested remainder :: n. the absolute right to receive title after a pre ... pass to him. See also: vest vested
vexatious litigation :: n. filing a lawsuit with the knowledge that it has ... lous malicious prosecution sanction
vicarious liability :: n. sometimes called "imputed liability," attachmen ... r or policeman. See also: liability
vigilante :: n. someone who takes the law into his/her own hand ... lester of her child is a vigilante.
viz :: prep. to wit, or namely. Example: "There were seve ... d broken windows." See also: to wit
void :: adj. referring to a statute, contract, ruling or a ... udgment is void. See also: voidable
void for vagueness :: adj. referring to a statute defining a crime which ... o the states by the 14th Amendment.