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reasonable doubt :: legal definition


Reasonable doubt - n. not being sure of a criminal defendant's guilt to a moral certainty. Thus, a juror (or judge sitting without a jury) must be convinced of guilt of a crime (or the degree of crime, as murder instead of manslaughter) "beyond a reasonable doubt," and the jury will be told so by the judge in the jury instructions. However, it is a subjective test since each juror will have to decide if his/her doubt is reasonable. It is more difficult to convict under that test, than "preponderance of the evidence" to decide for the plaintiff (party bringing the suit) in a civil (non-criminal) trial.

See also: preponderance of the evidence 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
arrest :: v. 1) to take or hold a suspected criminal with le ... anda warning probable cause warrant
beyond a reasonable doubt :: adj. part of jury instructions in all criminal tri ... on moral certainty reasonable doubt
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
brief :: 1) n. a written legal argument, usually in a forma ... another person. See also: precedent
burden of proof :: n. the requirement that the plaintiff (the party b ... ence prima facie weight of evidence
challenge :: n. the right of each attorney in a jury trial to r ... ess. See also: peremptory challenge
circumstantial evidence :: n. evidence in a trial which is not directly from ... circumstantial. See also: evidence
clear and convincing evidence :: n. evidence that proves a matter by the "preponder ... See also: beyond a reasonable doubt
concurrent sentences :: n. sentences for more than one crime which are to ... ith the longest period controlling.
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.
crime of passion :: n. a defendant's excuse for committing a crime due ... dant. See also: manslaughter murder
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
DNA :: n. scientifically, deoxyribonucleic acid, a chromo ... is strongly in favor of admission.
evidence :: n. every type of proof legally presented at trial ... material object objection relevant
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
hearing :: n. any proceeding before a judge or other magistra ... e hearing preliminary hearing 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
inference :: n. a rule of logic applied to evidence in a trial, ... . See also: circumstantial evidence
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
judgment notwithstanding the verdict :: (N.O.V.) n. reversal of a jury's verdict by the tr ... veredicto. See also: N.O.V. verdict
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 panel :: n. the list from which jurors for a particular tri ... may be chosen. See also: juror jury
marked for identification :: adj. documents or objects presented during a trial ... exhibit lay a foundation objection
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 dismissal :: (non-suit) n. application by a defendant in a laws ... otion for nonsuit. 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
negligence :: n. failure to exercise the care toward others whic ... gence per se res ipsa loquitur tort
no contest :: n. in criminal law, a defendant's plea in court th ... : nolo contendere plea plea bargain
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
offer of proof :: n. an explanation made by an attorney to a judge d ... rial irrelevant objection testimony
own recognizance :: (O.R.) n. the basis for a judge allowing a person ... n recognizance. See also: bail O.R.
peremptory challenge :: n. the right of the plaintiff and the defendant in ... challenge for cause jury voir dire
preliminary hearing :: n. in criminal law, a hearing to determine if a pe ... nment charge Grand Jury information
preponderance of the evidence :: n. the greater weight of the evidence required in ... what subjective. See also: evidence
proof :: n. confirmation of a fact by evidence. In a trial, ... doubt preponderance of the evidence
sealed verdict :: n. the decision of a jury when there is a delay in ... reconvenes. See also: jury verdict
search and seizure :: n. examination of a person's premises (residence, ... robable cause search search warrant
sentence :: 1) n. the punishment given to a person convicted o ... ence restitution suspended sentence
sequester :: v. to keep separate or apart. In so-called "high-p ... of others. See also: sequestration
specific finding :: n. a decision on a fact made by a jury in its verd ... so forth. See also: special verdict
strike :: 1) v. to remove a statement from the record of the ... ing the business, factory or store.
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.
turn states' evidence :: v. for a person accused of a crime to decide to gi ... recommendation of a light sentence.
verdict :: n. the decision of a jury after a trial, which mus ... nt quotient verdict special verdict
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

Popular Law Searches

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Other Law Terms - R

race to the courthouse :: n. slang for the rule that the first deed, deed of ... e also: deed judgment lien mortgage
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racketeering :: n. the federal crime of conspiring to organize to ... ("organized crime" or "the Mafia").
ransom :: 1) n. money paid to a kidnapper in demand for the ... ive. See also: abduction kidnapping
rape :: 1) n. the crime of sexual intercourse (with actual ... See also: date rape statutory rape
ratable :: adj. taxable according to value, such as an estate ... lue, such as an estate or property.
ratification :: n. confirmation of an action which was not pre-app ... mployee). See also: agent principal
ratify :: v. to confirm and adopt the act of another even th ... ligation. See also: agent principal
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ready, willing and able :: adj. fully prepared to act, as in performing a con ... o act, as in performing a contract.
real estate :: n. land, improvements and buildings thereon, inclu ... the future. See also: real property
real estate investment trust :: n. nicknamed REIT, a real estate investment organi ... its upon sale-if there is a profit.
real party in interest :: n. the person or entity who will benefit from a la ... st is the beneficiary of the trust.
real property :: n. 1) all land, structures, firmly attached and in ... onal property real estate reversion
realty :: n. a short form of "real estate." See also: real e ... real estate." See also: real estate
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