The role of the jury in criminal cases is to determine the guilt or innocence of criminal defendants. Juries are not called on to determine what criminal punishment to apply to a defendant. The judge usually makes these determinations in criminal cases. The sentencing judge may consider a number of goals in [...]

The rules of evidence determine what evidence a jury can consider. This evidence is used by the jury to determine guilt or innocence. While this may seem like a rather uncontroversial subject, the role of the jury in criminal cases has been the subject of quite a bit of litigation. The courts [...]

Evidence in criminal cases is closely related to the concept of criminal guilt or liability. Indeed, evidence makes it possible to determine guilt. The prosecutor must establish that each element of a crime has been satisfied with proof beyond a reasonable doubt. In making this showing, the prosecutor is entitled to present [...]

We have all heard that a defendant is innocent until proven guilty of a crime. This basic idea is what separates the free from the imprisoned and it determines whether we are afforded life, liberty, or property. This may sound like a simple concept, but it isn’t. Determining what constitutes guilt for [...]