jury
JOOR-ee
/ˈdʒʊəri/
A body of people (typically twelve) sworn to give a verdict in a legal case on the basis of evidence submitted to them in court.
The jury's role is to determine the facts and apply the law as instructed by the judge to reach a verdict, not to decide the law itself.
The story behind the word. The word 'jury' comes from the Old French 'jurée,' meaning 'an oath.' This, in turn, derives from the Latin 'iurata,' the feminine past participle of 'iurare,' which means 'to swear.' So, a jury is literally a group of people who are 'sworn' to uphold justice and deliver a true verdict based on the evidence presented.
Word relationships
- panel: A panel is a general term for a group of people assembled for a specific purpose, which could include a jury.
Commonly confused with
- judge: A 'jury' is a group of ordinary citizens who decide the facts of a case and deliver a verdict. A 'judge' is a legal professional who presides over the court, interprets the law, and manages the proceedings.
Word family
- juror (noun): a member of a jury.
- jurist (noun): an expert in law.
Collocations
- grand jury
- petit jury
- hung jury
- jury duty
- jury box
Idioms & expressions
- jury of one's peers
Example sentences
- "After weeks of testimony, the jury retired to deliberate, tasked with reaching a unanimous verdict." Describing the jury's role in a trial.
- "Potential jurors were questioned extensively to ensure impartiality before being selected for the jury." Referring to the process of selecting a jury.
Memory hook
The 'JURY' makes a 'JUR'isdiction decision after hearing the evidence. JUR-isdiction decision
When not to use
Do not use 'jury' to refer to any group of decision-makers outside a formal legal or competition context (e.g., 'a jury of my peers' is an idiom, but not a literal jury).
Fun facts
- The concept of a jury dates back to ancient Greece and Rome, though its modern form developed in medieval England.
- A 'hung jury' occurs when a jury cannot agree on a unanimous verdict, often leading to a mistrial.
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