Why is jury nullification not a significant issue in civil trials?
A. Civil trials are those in which private rights and the interests of private parties are at stake. Although the consequences of civil trials can be significant, involving valuable property rights or substantial monetary loss, the private nature of civil actions does not raise the same concerns about state power present in criminal trials, nor do civil sanctions involve imprisonment or loss of life. Accordingly, trial and appellate judges in civil actions have been given greater latitude to overturn a jury’s verdict on appeal, to grant a motion for summary judgment, or to direct a verdict as a matter of law at trial without giving the jury an opportunity to consider the case.
