NOTICE: This glossary of legal words and phrases is provided to help you better understand the legal terminology used in the court system. THIS GLOSSARY IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR THE ADVICE OF AN ATTORNEY.
THIS WEBSITE CANNOT GIVE YOU LEGAL ADVICE. YOU SHOULD NEVER RELY ON THESE VERY BASIC DEFINITIONS TO MAKE LEGAL DECISIONS. Please use this glossary to get a general understanding of your legal circumstance and have a better interaction with your attorney.
Jury—A group of residents from a local jurisdiction (such as a county) who directly participate in the justice system as neutral fact-finders based on evidence presented in court. The Right to Trial by Jury is recognized by both the United States and Ohio Constitutions.
Jury duty—The legal obligation of citizens to come to a trial court to sit as jurors (either as grand jurors or petit jurors), and decide criminal and civil cases. In some courts, jury duty for trials can last as little as one week, or for the duration of one trial. Grand juries meet for different lengths of time, and may not meet every day.
Grand Jury—A group of citizens empowered by a court to hear preliminary evidence, and decide if a crime has been committed. If the grand jury decides that there is enough evidence to believe that an individual has committed a crime, it issues an indictment.
Petit Jury—The jury in the trial of a case, whether it is criminal or civil. A trial court jury decides, after hearing all the evidence, whether one party owes something to another (a civil case), or whether a person is guilty or not guilty of a crime (a criminal case.)
Foreperson—The member of a jury who acts as the “chair” of the deliberations. The foreman or forewoman does not have any extra authority or voting power, but helps to organize the discussion of the evidence within the jury. The members of a jury generally select that person at the start of their deliberations. A foreperson might have authority to sign certain court documents related to the deliberations and any indictment or verdict.
Verdict—The final decision of a petit jury after hearing all the evidence, legal arguments, and instructions on the law from the judge in a civil or criminal trial. A civil verdict might determine whether one party owes money to another party. A criminal verdict would be either guilty or not guilty as to an alleged crime. A “hung jury” is one that cannot agree on a verdict.