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

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Michaels is requesting unspecified damages to be determined in a jury trial. Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 23 July 2025 The case could also then go to trial after the discovery phase concludes, with Trump’s complaint requesting a jury trial to determine whether or not he was defamed. Alison Durkee, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025 Dixon is requesting a jury trial and damages of $260 million. Carson Blackwelder, People.com, 10 July 2025 Madison Marshall, 24, is set to take the stand in a jury trial set for May 2025 to speak against her co-defendant, Roan Waters, 27. Jade Jackson, IndyStar, 2 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for jury trial

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“Jury trial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jury%20trial. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

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.

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