What is a jury trial?

A jury trial is a legal proceeding in which a group of people—called a jury—make a decision in a case involving the state and a defendant. In Delaware, a jury trial is a right and is essential to the criminal justice system. A jury trial begins with jury selection, where members of the community are randomly selected from a list of citizens in the county. The jury has to meet certain criteria, such as being at least 18 years old and not having a criminal record. After jury selection, the trial begins. The prosecutor presents evidence, such as witnesses and physical evidence, to prove their case against the defendant. After that, the defense attorney presents their evidence and witnesses to support their case. Once all of the evidence has been presented, the jury has to listen to closing arguments from both the prosecutor and the defense attorney. After hearing the closing arguments, the jury must deliberate and discuss the evidence to reach a unanimous verdict. If they are unable to reach a unanimous verdict, it is known as a mistrial and the prosecutor may choose to retry the case. The jury is ultimately responsible for deciding the fate of the defendant by determining whether they are guilty or not guilty. Therefore, it is important that every juror pays attention throughout the trial and takes the time to consider all the evidence to come to a fair and just verdict.

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