Also known as: verdicts
Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
A jury's finding or decision on the factual issues of a case. The finding must be returned in open court and, in criminal cases, must be unanimous to support entry of judgment.
Viola Volkov stood trial on federal fraud charges. After deliberating, the twelve jurors returned to the courtroom and announced a unanimous guilty verdict to the presiding judge. The court accepted the verdict and set a sentencing date.
Valentina Vasquez was convicted of embezzlement after a jury returned a guilty verdict. On appeal the court found the prosecution's evidence legally insufficient to support the verdict. Double jeopardy therefore prevented the government from retrying her on the same charges.
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Vera Vargas sued Vertex Pharmaceuticals for product liability. The court submitted a general verdict form together with written questions on causation and damages. The jury answered the questions consistently with its general verdict for the plaintiff.
Valerie Voss was convicted of theft. Her counsel filed a motion for a new trial twelve days after the jury returned its guilty verdict, citing evidentiary errors. The court considered the motion on its merits because it was filed within the required fourteen-day window.
Vanessa Vega presided over multiple criminal trials in which she repeatedly directed guilty verdicts without allowing the jury to deliberate. The judicial conduct commission found her actions constituted gross incompetence and dereliction of duty.
Violet Vidal sued Vitality Foods for breach of warranty. The jury returned a general verdict for the plaintiff along with written answers to special questions on breach and damages. Because the answers were consistent with the verdict, the court entered judgment for Violet.
Yes. Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 31(a) requires that the jury return a unanimous verdict to the judge in open court. A non-unanimous verdict cannot support a conviction.
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A motion for a new trial based on any ground other than newly discovered evidence must be filed within fourteen days after the verdict. Filing after that deadline deprives the court of authority to grant relief.
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Reversal for legal insufficiency of the evidence is treated as an acquittal. The Double Jeopardy Clause therefore bars retrial on the same charges.
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When the general verdict and the jury's written answers to special questions are consistent, the court must approve and enter judgment on the verdict and answers under Rule 58.
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…Commissioner. There a jury again gave the full amount claimed. There is no reason to believe that there are not more such huge verdicts lurking just around the corner for the Times or any other newspaper or broadcaster which might dare to criticize public officials. In fact, briefs before us show that in Alabama there are…