What is the Difference Between Judge and Jury?

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The main difference between a judge and a jury lies in their roles and responsibilities during a trial. Here are the key differences:

  • Judge: A judge is a legal expert who presides over the trial, enforces the law, and ensures that the trial is conducted fairly for both sides. At the end of a trial, the judge instructs the jury on the applicable law, and the jury must obey the judge's instructions as to the law. The judge ultimately decides what evidence will be admitted and rules on issues of law before and during the trial.
  • Jury: A jury is a group of citizens who determine the facts of the case based on the evidence presented to them through testimony. The jury is responsible for finding the facts in the case, and their verdict must be unanimous. They must base their decision on the legal instructions provided by the judge and cannot consider untrustworthy, irrelevant, or prejudicial evidence.

In summary, a judge is a legal expert responsible for presiding over a trial and enforcing the law, while a jury is a group of citizens responsible for determining the facts of the case based on the evidence presented and the legal instructions provided by the judge.

Comparative Table: Judge vs Jury

The difference between a judge and a jury lies in their roles and responsibilities in a court case. Here is a table summarizing their differences:

Feature Judge Jury
Role Decides law and legal issues Decides factual issues
Responsibility Rules on what is permissible in court, instructs the jury on the law, and ensures the trial's proper conduct Determines the guilt or innocence of the accused based on the evidence presented, and decides on the appropriate punishment if the accused is found guilty
Decision-making Makes decisions as an individual Decides cases as a group
Qualifications Typically a legal expert with a law degree and experience in the legal profession Selected from a pool of eligible citizens, may have varying levels of legal knowledge and experience

In summary, the judge addresses issues of law and ensures the proper conduct of the trial, while the jury addresses issues of fact and determines the guilt or innocence of the accused based on the evidence presented.