What is the purpose of a criminal jury?

A criminal jury is made up of citizens who are chosen by the court to take part in a criminal trial to decide the fate of the accused. Its purpose is to serve as a judge of the facts in the case. The jury is not responsible for deciding whether the accused is guilty or innocent, but rather for listening to both sides and determining whether the evidence presented in the case warrants a conviction. Jury members are typically chosen at random from the community and are charged with the responsibility of listening to evidence and making a judgement based on the facts presented in the trial. This means that jurors must be impartial and unbiased, and must be able to listen to both sides with an open mind. The jury has the power to decide whether the prosecution has proven a defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, which is the highest burden of proof in a criminal case. In Virginia, jurors are expected to weigh the evidence, listen to testimony, and apply the law to the facts of the case. In doing so, they must be free from passion, prejudice, or bias. With their verdict, jurors thus carry out a critical part of the American justice system.

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What is the purpose of a criminal jury?

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