jury

Body of lay people (usually 12) sworn to decide the facts of a case and reach a verdict in a court of law. Juries, used mainly in English‐speaking countries, are implemented primarily in criminal cases, but also sometimes in civil cases; for example, inquests and libel trials.

The British jury derived from Germanic custom. It was introduced into England by the Normans. Originally it was a body of neighbours who gave their opinion on the basis of being familiar with the protagonists and background of a case. Eventually it developed into an impartial panel, giving a verdict based solely on evidence heard in court. The jury's duty is to decide the facts of a case: the judge directs them on matters of law. The basic principles of the British system have been adopted in the USA, most Commonwealth countries, and some European countries (for example, France). Grand juries are still used in the USA at both state and federal levels to decide whether there is a case to be referred for trial.

In England, jurors are selected at random from the electoral roll. Certain people are ineligible for jury service (such as lawyers and clerics), and others can be excused (such as members of Parliament and doctors). If the jury cannot reach a unanimous verdict it can give a majority verdict (at least 10 of the 12). In Scotland the jury numbers 15, and may return a verdict of ‘not proven’.