What is the role of the jury in criminal cases?

The role of the jury in a criminal case in Florida is to decide whether or not a defendant is guilty of a crime. Jurors hear evidence presented by both the prosecution and the defense and must decide if the prosecution has proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the accused is guilty. In order to reach a verdict, the jury must unanimously agree on whether or not the defendant is guilty of the crime in question. This means that all 12 jurors have to come to the same conclusion. If the jurors are not able to reach a unanimous verdict, the court may declare a mistrial and the case will have to be tried again in front of a new jury. In addition to determining the defendant’s guilt or innocence, juries also play a role in sentencing. In Florida, juries can recommend a sentence for a defendant who has been found guilty of a crime. The jury’s sentencing recommendation must be considered by the judge but the judge has the ultimate authority to decide what the sentence will be. Finally, juries also have the power to nullify laws. This means that the jury can decide that a law is unjust and acquit a defendant even if the defendant is found guilty based on the evidence presented. This power to nullify laws is rarely used by juries as it is an act of civil disobedience and all jurors must agree for it to be successful.

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What is the role of the jury in criminal cases?

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