What Is a Verdict and What Happens After a Jury Delivers a Guilty or Not Guilty Decision?

In the American judicial system, a verdict is the formal decision made by a judge or jury following a trial. It represents the conclusion of the trial and plays a significant role in the defendant’s fate. Therefore, it is one of the most critical aspects of any trial, whether criminal, civil, or otherwise.

In this article, we explore the concept of a verdict, how one is reached, and the different types of verdicts that a judge or a jury may render.

What Is a Verdict?

A verdict is a formal judgment or decision handed down by the court at the end of a civil or criminal trial or other legal proceeding. Depending on the jurisdiction and the type of legal proceeding, a verdict is either rendered by a jury of the defendant's peers or by the judge presiding over the case.

Verdict Definition and Meaning

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, verdict meaning is straightforward. The word “verdict” is a noun that refers to the decision or finding of a judge or jury in a court proceeding, such as a criminal trial or civil lawsuit.

What Does Verdict Mean in a Legal Context?

A verdict is a formal judgment or decision rendered by the courts following a legal proceeding, civil, criminal, or otherwise. It represents the conclusion of the entire process. Depending on the specific type of legal proceeding and the jurisdiction in which the proceeding took place, a verdict is reached either by a judge, a jury or sometimes even a panel of judges.

When most people think about the meaning of a verdict, they often think of criminal trials, where the verdict usually results in a finding of guilty or not guilty. These verdicts reflect whether the defendant's guilt has been proven beyond reasonable doubt by the prosecutor in the case. In a civil proceeding, Verdicts may have a wide range of outcomes, such as finding the defendant liable or not liable. A verdict in a civil case may also outline specific damages that will be awarded to the plaintiff.

What Is a Directed Verdict?

A judge may issue a directed verdict during a trial when there is insufficient evidence for the jury to reach a different conclusion. Judges can issue a directed verdict on their own or in response to a motion filed by either party involved.

Directed verdicts are typically handed down after both parties have had a chance to present their evidence in open court. When granted, a directed verdict terminates the case, resulting in a win for the defendant. Judges typically hand down directed verdicts when they believe the plaintiff or prosecutor failed to provide the necessary evidence to prove their case. In criminal cases, a direct verdict is essentially an acquittal.

What are the Types of Verdicts?

Verdicts may come in various forms, from general, special, and direct verdicts to the more common guilt, not guilty, liable, and not liable verdicts. In some circumstances, verdicts can be overturned by what is known as a “judgment notwithstanding the verdict,” or a court proceeding can end in a mistrial or a hung jury.

Here are some of the most common types of verdicts defined in more detail:

• General verdict meaning: A general verdict simply rules in favor of either the plaintiff or defendant and may specifically determine shares of liability and the amount of damages owed.
• Special verdict definition: Sometimes, a judge issues a verdict based on the jury's answers to certain questions. This is known as a special verdict.
• Directed verdict meaning: When a judge believes a case lacks merit, they may issue a directed verdict before the jury can issue its findings.
• Judgment notwithstanding: A judgment notwithstanding a verdict is issued by a presiding judge and reverses the jury’s verdict. These judgments are usually rendered when an issue with the facts presented in the case has arisen or a violation has occurred.
• A guilty or not guilty verdict: These are the two most common types of verdicts rendered in a criminal trial and indicate whether the defendant's guilt has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
• Hung jury: In some jurisdictions, a “hung jury” or a “deadlocked jury " refers to a jury that cannot reach a verdict because members cannot reach a consensus on a verdict even after extensive deliberations.
• Mistrial: A mistrial occurs when the jury cannot reach a verdict, like a hung jury. A mistrial can also happen when some form of misconduct or serious procedural error occurs that would result in an unfair trial. In either case, a mistrial usually ends in the judge adjourning the case without a verdict and scheduling a new trial.
• Liable or not liable verdict: In most civil cases, a verdict of liable or not liable indicates if the defendant will be held liable.

The Role of the Jury in Delivering a Verdict

A jury plays a pivotal role in both civil and criminal trials. Jury trials exist because the founding fathers saw juries as one way to prevent oppressive governments from putting their thumbs on the scales of justice.

In all criminal cases, whether the crime is charged in federal or state court, a felony charge, or a misdemeanor, every defendant facing a penalty of at least six months in prison has a constitutional It is important to point out a major distinction between two common types of juries, however. A trial jury hears evidence in a case during open court proceedings to decide if a defendant is guilty or not. There is also what is known as a grand jury, which decides if charges should be brought against a defendant in the first place.

Jury service is every US citizen’s obligation. The constitution promises that the jury's makeup will reflect the defendant’s peers, which courts have interpreted as a balanced cross-section of the defendant’s community.

Whether the case is criminal or civil, jury selection occurs during pretrial. Attorneys for each side and the judge get to ask questions to ensure a potential juror’s ability to serve while remaining impartial. Attorneys may reject prospective jurors through a rigorous process, but they cannot shape a jury.

How Does a Jury Decide on a Verdict?

During court proceedings, juries hear opening statements from each side, are presented with the facts, review evidence, and consider defenses. The jury then deliberates, which means it weighs all of the evidence and determines whether it proves the criminal offense beyond reasonable doubt.

Once they reach a consensus, the jury renders a verdict. Sometimes, consensus must be unanimous, like in a criminal court case. However, the rules are often different in a civil trial.

Jury Verdict vs. Judge's Verdict

The primary strength of a jury trial and, ultimately, a jury verdict is that it is a time-tested check on unfettered prosecutorial power. While prosecutors often have tremendous power to decide to seek charges against someone, ultimately, the jury, a group of people unknown to them, will determine the outcome.

Another strength of seeking a jury verdict vs. a judge’s ruling is that having judges decide every case could raise concerns regarding the fairness of our judicial process. Of course, juries are not infallible; in cases where a lot of attention or public opinion might weigh heavily in one party’s favor, the judge can sequester a jury to minimize the influence exerted by the media or the public.

Compared to a judge’s verdict, a jury verdict can have downsides. Jurors are laypeople and are often asked to consider complicated legal concepts in the case, which is not always an easy task. It can also be quite time-consuming. Judges also tend to be more strict about legal technicalities during a jury trial vs. a non-jury trial.

How Verdicts Are Decided in Different Court Settings

In criminal jury cases, verdicts are decided after all evidence has been weighed and there is unanimous consensus on a final verdict among jurors hearing the case. In civil cases, verdicts need not always be unanimous. In some jurisdictions, at least 75 percent of jurors must agree on a verdict. In others, the percentage of agreement will depend on the total number of jurors deciding the case.

Criminal vs. Civil Court Verdicts

When comparing criminal verdicts vs. civil court verdicts, perhaps the most striking difference lies in the standard of proof. For a guilty verdict to be rendered in a criminal case, the standard of proof is “beyond a reasonable doubt.” This means that the evidence presented during the case was so strong that there can be no reasonable doubt about the defendant’s guilt. Regarding civil cases, the standard of proof is quite different. The standard of proof lies in a "preponderance of the evidence" being enough to prove that a plaintiff's claims are true.

Furthermore, in criminal cases, unanimity must exist. That means that every juror must agree that the evidence proves a defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. This is not always the case in a civil trial.

When a guilty verdict is rendered in a criminal case, the defendant can face prison time, monetary punishment, or both. Civil cases, on the other hand, usually only result in financial damages or some court order compelling the defendant to do something.

State vs. Federal Court Verdicts

The main difference between a state and federal court lies in its jurisdiction but not so much in its verdict. A state court has what is known as general jurisdiction, meaning they have authority over a wide range of cases. In contrast, federal courts have what is known as limited jurisdiction. 

So, federal courts will only hear matters involving federal or constitutional law.

State and federal verdicts, whether they are jury verdicts or a judge’s verdict, are usually rendered in the same fashion in both state and federal courts.

What Happens After a Verdict?

Once a jury verdict is reached, the jury foreperson informs the judge presiding over the case, the lawyers for both parties and the defendant during open court. In the case of a judge's verdict, the judge reads their verdict out loud in court to everyone present.

What Happens After a Guilty Verdict

Once a guilty verdict is rendered in a criminal case, the defendant must return to court later, usually within a few months, for sentencing. The judge will proceed with sentencing the guilty party using sentencing guidelines recommending certain punishments for certain crimes and various other factors, such as presentencing reports, victim statements, and statements from the defendant and their attorney.

At sentencing, a judge can consider mitigating and aggravating factors, including whether the defendant is a repeat offender, whether they have expressed remorse, and the nature of the crime. A judge can order imprisonment, supervised release (or probation), restitution, or community service as part of the sentence. In some cases, when warranted, a defendant’s attorney may file an appeal of the guilty verdict.

What Happens After a Not Guilty Verdict

A not guilty verdict, also known as an acquittal, essentially means that the prosecution failed to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Once the defendant has been found not guilty, the Fifth Amendment to the US Constitution affords them "double jeopardy" protection, which bars prosecutors from trying the defendant again for the same crime. Usually, following a not-guilty verdict, the defendant is released from custody.

What Are Your Options If You Disagree with the Court's Decision?

If any party is unsatisfied with a jury verdict and believes the jury failed to rely on the evidentiary rules in rendering its verdict, that party can appeal the decision beginning with the appellate court and, in some cases, the Supreme Court. An appeal may also be filed if there is evidence that the judge failed to instruct the jury properly.

Appeals Process

An appeal is decided by three-judge panels who work together to render decisions. The appeals process consists of the appellant presenting legal arguments in writing to the panel in a document known as a "brief." Using the brief, the appellant attempts to persuade the panel of judges that the trial court made an error and that the verdict should be reversed.

Post-Verdict Motions

Post-verdict motions are filed after the verdict has been rendered and after sentencing. Such port-verdict motions may include the following:

• New trial motion: This motion, which is rarely granted, asks the appeals court to vacate the judgment and order a new trial.
• Judgment of acquittal motion: This type of motion asks a court to set aside a jury verdict and allow a defendant to go free.
• Motion to vacate, set aside, or correct a sentence: Such motions are used to correct clerical errors in the sentencing phase.
• Arrest of judgment motion: This motion questions the indictment itself and whether sufficient evidence was brought in the criminal case.
• Motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict: This asks the judge to enter a judgment in favor of the losing party despite the jury verdict.

Post-trial motions are filed with the trial court and often represent either party’s last chance to seek relief. Usually, denying or granting a post-trial motion becomes the basis for an appeal.

A verdict, whether guilty, not guilty, or some other type of judgment, like those reached in a civil proceeding, is the final decision rendered by a judge or jury at the end of a trial, determining the outcome of a case. Several types of verdicts may be rendered in a case, including general, special, and directed verdicts resulting from hung juries and mistrials.

After a jury or judge’s verdict has been delivered, the legal process moves forward with sentencing or a potential appeal. An appeal, like a post-verdict motion, allows all parties to challenge the court’s decision, ensuring that justice is served fairly.