Mistrials
Mistrials Mistrials are trials that are not successfully completed. They’re terminated and declared void before the jury returns a verdict or the judge renders his or her decision in a …
Civic Literacy
Jury Deliberations
Jury Deliberations After receiving the instructions and hearing the final arguments, the jury retires to the jury room to begin deliberating. In most states the first order of business is …
Verdict
Verdict After reaching a decision, the jury notifies the bailiff, who notifies the judge. All of the participants reconvene in the courtroom and the decision is announced. The announcement may …
Motions after Verdict
Motions after Verdict Motions permitted after a verdict is announced differ from state to state. A motion in arrest of judgment questions the sufficiency of the indictment or information in a criminal …
Judgment
Judgment The decision of the jury doesn’t take effect until the judge enters a judgment on the decision - that is, an order that it be filed in public records. In a …
Sentencing
Sentencing If the defendant is convicted in a criminal case, the judge will set a date for sentencing. Before that time, a pre-sentence investigation will take place to help the …
Appeals
Appeals A popular misconception is that cases are always appealed. Not often does a losing party have an automatic right of appeal. There usually must be a legal basis for …
What is a Lawyer?
Outside of television shows or movies, you may have no knowledge of what lawyers are or what they do. While fictional depictions can be helpful, they are not always accurate. The following are a few commonly asked questions about lawyers.
When Do I Need a Lawyer?
Some problems are not really legal—or are not exclusively legal—and can be handled, at least in part, with the help of psychologists, the clergy or other counselors. But many problems do have a legal dimension and require a lawyer’s help. The following questions and answers provide guidance.
How Do I Find a Lawyer?
Most people don’t have a “regular” lawyer, in the sense that they have one or more doctors that they see at least annually. So how do you find the lawyer who’s right for you? Where do you turn for recommendations?