Inlaw, averdict is the formalfinding of fact made by ajury on matters or questions submitted to the jury by ajudge.^[1] In abench trial, the judge's decision near the end of the trial is simply referred to as a finding.^[2] InEngland and Wales, acoroner's findings used to be called verdicts but are, since 2009, called conclusions (seeCoroner § Inquest conclusions (previously called verdicts)).

The term "verdict", from the Latinveredictum, literally means "to say the truth" and is derived fromMiddle Englishverdit, fromAnglo-Norman: a compound ofver ("true", from theLatinvērus) anddit ("speech", from the Latindictum, theneuter past participle ofdīcere, to say).

In acriminal case, the verdict, either "not guilty" or "guilty"—except inScotland where the verdict of "not proven" is also available—is handed down by the jury. Different counts in the same case may have different verdicts.

A verdict of guilty in a criminal case generally requires evidence to be tested and truebeyond reasonable doubt^[3] and is normally followed by ajudgment of conviction rendered by judge, which in turn be followed bysentencing.

In U.S. legal nomenclature, the verdict is the jury's finding on the questions of fact submitted to it. Once the court (the judge) receives the verdict, the judge enters judgment on the verdict. The judgment of the court is the final order in the case. If the defendant is found guilty, they can choose toappeal the case to the local Court of Appeals.

A compromise verdict is a "verdict which is reached only by the surrender of conscientious convictions upon one material issue by some jurors in return for a relinquishment by others of their like settled opinion upon another issue, and the result does not command the approval of the whole panel", and, as such, is not permitted.^[4]

In ajury trial, adirected verdict is an order from the presidingjudge to thejury to return a particular verdict. Typically, the judge orders a directed verdict after finding that no reasonable jury could decide to the contrary. After a directed verdict, the jury no longer needs to decide thecase.

A judge may order a directed verdict on an entire case or only on specific issues.

In acriminal case in theUnited States, once the prosecution has closed its case, the defendant may move for a directed verdict.^[5] If granted, the verdict will be "not guilty".^[5] The prosecution may never seek a directed verdict of guilty, as the defendant has a constitutional right to present a defense and rebut the prosecution's case and have a jury determine guilt or innocence (where a defendant has waived their right to a jury trial and allowed the judge to render the verdict, this still applies).

In the American civil legal system, the concept of directed verdict has largely been replaced byjudgment as a matter of law.

In England and Wales, the equivalent motion, likewise made by the defence after the prosecution rests, is known as a motion ofno case to answer. The judge may not direct a verdict of guilty under any circumstances: seeR v Wang.

A general verdict is when the jury makes a complete finding and a single conclusion on all issues presented. First, the jury finds the facts, as proved by the evidence, then applies the law as instructed by the court, and finally, it returns a verdict in one conclusion that settles the case. Such verdict is reported as follows:

We the Jury find the issues for the plaintiff (or defendant, as the case may be) and assess his damages at one hundred thousand dollars.

A sealed verdict is put into a sealed envelope when there is a delay in announcing the result, such as waiting for the judge, the parties, and the attorneys to return to court. The verdict is kept in a sealed envelope until the court reconvenes and then handed to the judge.^[6] This practice is virtually the default in many U.S. jurisdictions or may be the preference of the judge involved.

InEnglish law, aspecial verdict is a verdict by ajury that makes specific factual conclusions rather than (or in addition to) the jury's declaration of guilt or liability. For example, jurors may write down a specific monetary amount of damages or a finding of proportionality in addition to the jury's ultimate finding of liability. A special jury verdict form may be used to have the jury answer directed questions as to the required elements for a cause of action or special issues and to demarcate monetary awards of damages by economic and non-economic damages, beneficiary, and specific categories of damages (lost earning capacity, funeral expenses,loss of consortium,pain and suffering, etc.).^[7] In the words ofWilliam Blackstone, "The jury state the naked facts, as they find them to be proved, and pray the advice of the court thereon".^[8] Special verdicts are intended to focus the jury's attention on the important questions at hand.^[9]

The judge forced a special verdict in the famous 1884 case ofR v. Dudley and Stephens, which established a precedent that necessity is not a defence to a charge of murder but, generally, it is recommended that such verdicts should only be returned in the most exceptional cases.^[10][11]

The jury has a historic function of tempering rules of law by common sense brought to bear upon the facts of a specific case. For this reason, JusticesBlack andDouglas indicated their disapproval of special verdicts even in civil cases.^[12]

• Virtual jury research

Look upVerdict in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911)."Verdict" .Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.

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• Wikipedia articles incorporating a citation from the 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica with Wikisource reference