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Verdict facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

A verdict is a very important decision made in a court of law. It's the official answer given by a jury after they have heard all the facts in a case. Think of it as the jury's final word on whether someone is responsible or not.

Understanding a Verdict

In a legal case, a verdict is the formal finding of facts by a jury. This decision is a key part of how justice works. The jury listens carefully to all the information and evidence presented during a trial. After considering everything, they decide what they believe happened.

What Does a Jury Do?

A jury is a group of ordinary citizens chosen to listen to a case in court. Their job is to be fair and unbiased. They listen to witnesses, look at evidence, and hear arguments from both sides. After all the information is presented, the jury goes to a private room to discuss the case. They talk about the facts and try to agree on what the truth is. Their final decision is the verdict.

Types of Verdicts

When a verdict is given, it usually means the jury has decided if a person is responsible for something or not.

Guilty or Not Guilty?

In cases where someone is accused of breaking a rule or law, the jury will decide if they are guilty or not guilty.

  • A guilty verdict means the jury believes the person did what they were accused of.
  • A not guilty verdict means the jury believes the person did not do it, or there wasn't enough proof to show they did.

The "Not Proven" Verdict in Scotland

In Scotland, there are two ways a person can be found not responsible: "not guilty" and "not proven".

  • "Not guilty" is similar to other places, meaning the jury is sure the person is innocent.
  • "Not proven" means the jury isn't convinced the person is guilty, but they also aren't fully convinced they are innocent. It's like saying there wasn't enough evidence to prove guilt, but there are still some doubts. Both "not guilty" and "not proven" mean the person is set free.

Images for kids

  • Waiting for the Verdict by Abraham Solomon, 1859, Getty Center

    Waiting for the Verdict, Abraham Solomon, 1859

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Veredicto para niños

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