jury

¹ju·ry

noun \ˈju̇r-ē\

plural juries

Definition of JURY

1

: a body of persons sworn to give a verdict on some matter submitted to them; especially : a body of persons legally selected and sworn to inquire into any matter of fact and to give their verdict according to the evidence

2

: a committee for judging and awarding prizes at a contest or exhibition

3

: one (as the public or test results) that will decide —used especially in the phrase the jury is still out

Examples of JURY

1. The jury failed to reach a verdict.
2. She was selected to serve on a jury.

Origin of JURY

Middle English jure, from Anglo-French juree, from jurer to swear, from Latin jurare, from jur-, jus

First Known Use: 15th century

Other Legal Terms

actionable, alienable, carceral, chattel, complicity, decedent, larceny, malfeasance, modus operandi

Rhymes with JURY

fleury, fury, houri, Urey

²jury

adjective

Definition of JURY

: improvised for temporary use especially in an emergency : makeshift <a jury mast> <a jury rig>

Origin of JURY

Middle English jory (in jory saile improvised sail)

First Known Use: 15th century

³jury

transitive verb

jur·iedjury·ing

Definition of JURY

: to select material as appropriate for exhibition in (as an art show) —used chiefly as a participle <a juried show>

Origin of JURY

¹jury

First Known Use: 1947

jury

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

In law, a body of individuals selected and sworn to inquire into a question of fact and to render a verdict according to the evidence. Juries may deal with questions of law in addition to questions of fact, though federal juries in the U.S. are usually limited to dealing with questions of fact. The modern jury can vary in size depending on the proceeding but usually has either 6 or 12 members. By U.S. law, federal grand juries and petit juries must be “selected at random from a fair cross-section of the community in the district or division wherein the court convenes.” State jury selection varies somewhat. The Supreme Court of the United States has stated in a series of decisions that a jury is to be composed of “peers and equals” and that systematic exclusion from a jury of a particular class of people (e.g., on the basis of sex, skin colour, or ancestry) violates the equal-protection clause of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States and the defendant's right to a jury trial. A defendant is not, however, entitled to a jury of any particular composition. See also grand jury; petit jury; voir dire.