A compromised verdict occurs when a jury, unable to reach a unanimous decision, agrees to settle on a verdict that represents a compromise between the positions of the opposing parties. This can happen when some jurors are convinced of the defendant’s guilt or innocence while others hold the opposite view. In such cases, jurors may agree to compromise to avoid a mistrial or deadlock. However, compromise verdicts are controversial as they may not accurately reflect the evidence presented in court and may undermine the integrity of the legal process.
n. a decision made by a jury in which the jurors split the difference between the high amount of damages that one group of jurors feels is justified and the low amount that other jurors favour. Since this is a “chance” verdict not computed on a careful determination of the damages, it may do an injustice to one party or the other and is thus misconduct, which can result in an appeals court overturning the verdict.
A compromise verdict refers to a decision reached by a jury in a legal case where the members are unable to reach a unanimous verdict. In such cases, the jury may agree to a compromise verdict, which is a decision that is reached by a majority of the jurors. This compromise verdict is then accepted by the court as the final decision in the case.
A compromise verdict is a verdict reached by a jury when they are unable to reach a unanimous decision on a defendant’s guilt or innocence. It is a middle ground between a guilty and not guilty verdict.
In a unanimous verdict, all members of the jury must agree on the defendant’s guilt or innocence. However, in a compromise verdict, the jury is allowed to reach a decision even if not all members are in agreement.
Yes, a compromise verdict is legally valid as long as it meets the requirements set by the court. It is considered a legitimate outcome of the jury’s deliberations.
In most cases, a compromise verdict cannot be appealed. The principle of jury deliberations being confidential and protected prevents the parties from challenging the verdict based on the jury’s internal decision-making process.
Yes, a compromise verdict can be reached in both criminal and civil cases. It is not limited to criminal trials only.
The court may provide specific instructions to the jury regarding the possibility of a compromise verdict. However, the decision to reach a compromise verdict ultimately lies with the jury, and there are no strict limitations on when it can be reached.
While a compromise verdict cannot be directly challenged, the prosecution or defence may seek post-trial remedies such as filing motions for a new trial or appealing the verdict based on other grounds, such as legal errors or misconduct. However, challenging the compromise nature of the verdict itself is generally not possible.
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This glossary post was last updated: 10th April, 2024.
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