What Does Proving Guilt “Beyond A Reasonable Doubt” Mean?
The prosecutor must persuade the jury or judge that is hearing the case that you are guilty “beyond a reasonable doubt.” This is a very difficult standard to meet. (In non-criminal cases, such as breach of contract or personal injury cases, a plaintiff must prove that he or she is not guilty only by a preponderance of the evidence—meaning just over 50%). The high burden of proof in criminal cases means that jurors and judges must have no doubt about the meaning of the evidence in relation to a defendant. With such a high standard imposed on the prosecutor, the most common defense of a defendant is to argue that reasonable doubt exists—meaning that the prosecutor has not done a proper job of proving that the defendant is guilty. Q: Am I Guaranteed A Trial By A Jury If I Am Accused Of A Crime? A: Yes, you are. The United States Constitution says that anyone accused of a crime has the right to a trial in front of a jury. This right has long been interpreted to mean a 12-person jury that m
