10 Songs You Didn't Know Were Covers; 8 Things You Didn't Know About Drake; Luis Fonsi - Despacito ft. Daddy Yankee; More Videos; Features
Can a Judge Overrule a Jury Verdict? In any trial, the judgeâs decision and opinion has higher authority than anyone else. The fact of the matter is that a judge is an expert on the law and the jury is not. The judge can overturn a guilty verdict and find the defendant not guilty, but not the other way around. Instead of overturning a guilty verdict, the judge can order a new trial.
If the case is being tried before a jury, the judge instructs the jury on how to apply the law to the case. Jurors deliberate privately to determine the outcome of a case. In criminal cases, a jury determines whether a defendant is guilty or not guilty and, in some cases, determines a penalty. The judge is responsible for formally sentencing the defendant at a later hearing. In a civil case, the jury determines whether a plaintiff has proven the case and what, if any, damages to award. Under certain circumstances, the judge may overrule the jury's determination or damage award.