Verdict of "dīcere", to say). In a criminal case, the verdict, which may be either "not guilty" or "guilty"—except in Scotland where the verdict of "not proven" is also available—is handed down by the jury. Different counts in the same case may have different verdicts. A verdict of guilty in a criminal case is generally followed by a judgment of conviction rendered by judge, which in turn be followed by sentencing. In U.S. legal nomenclature, the verdict is the finding of the jury on the questions of fact submitted to it. Once the court (the judge) receives the verdict, the judge
Magistrate (England and Wales) The magistrates swore affidavits stating that they had reached their decision to convict the defendant without consulting their clerk. The Magistrates' Association is the membership organisation for magistrates. Since 1969, it has helped to develop various sentencing guidelines. It also organises conferences and publishes a journal, "The Magistrate", ten times a year. Members also participate in local branch activities, with each branch nominating representatives to the organisation's council. Magistrate (England and Wales) In the legal system of England and Wales, there is a history of involving lay people, namely people from the local community who are not required to hold