jury trial

noun

: a trial that is decided by a jury

I demand my right to a jury trial.

Examples of jury trial in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Ozment was indicted on multiple counts of burglary in 2014, and per McLennan County online court records, waived his right to a jury trial and entered a guilty plea in the case. —Emily Palmer, Peoplemag, 26 Sep. 2024

Instead, the Supreme Court focused on a defendant being entitled to a jury trial under the 7th Amendment when an agency (the SEC) seeks to impose civil penalties. —Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 24 Sep. 2024

According to the video, Harrison Engelbert was convicted of second-degree murder after a police investigation and jury trial, and sentenced to 25 years in prison without the possibility of parole. —Elizabeth Hernandez, The Denver Post, 27 Aug. 2024

The suit, which does not specify damages and seeks a jury trial, also accused the Aces of retaliation. —Tim Stelloh, NBC News, 13 Aug. 2024

Legal Definition

jury trial

noun

: a trial in which a jury serves as the trier of fact

called also trial by jury

compare bench trial

Note: The right to a jury trial is established in the U.S. Constitution, but it is not an absolute right. The Supreme Court has stated that petty crimes (as those carrying a sentence of up to 6 months) do not require trial by jury. The right to a jury trial in a criminal case may be waived by the “express and intelligent consent” of the defendant, usually in writing, as well as, in federal cases, the approval of the court and consent of the prosecutor. There is no right to a jury trial in equity cases. When a civil case involves both legal and equitable issues or procedure, either party may demand a jury trial (and failure to do so is taken as a waiver), but the judge may find that there is no right to a jury trial because of equitable issues or claims.