What is the final decision rendered by a jury at the end of a trial?

What is the final decision rendered by a jury at the end of a trial?

• A. Judgment
• B. Ruling
• C. Verdict
• D. Decision

Answer: (C)

The final decision a jury renders at the end of a trial is the verdict. The verdict reflects the jury’s determination on the facts and the outcome of the case—such as guilty or not guilty in a criminal trial, or liable or not liable in a civil case (and sometimes including damages in civil cases). After the verdict is announced, a judge may issue a judgment to formalize the outcome in the court record. A judgment is the judge’s final order based on the verdict, while a ruling refers to a judge’s decision on a specific issue during the trial, and a general “decision” is too vague to specify the jury’s role.

The final decision a jury renders at the end of a trial is the verdict. The verdict reflects the jury’s determination on the facts and the outcome of the case—such as guilty or not guilty in a criminal trial, or liable or not liable in a civil case (and sometimes including damages in civil cases). After the verdict is announced, a judge may issue a judgment to formalize the outcome in the court record. A judgment is the judge’s final order based on the verdict, while a ruling refers to a judge’s decision on a specific issue during the trial, and a general “decision” is too vague to specify the jury’s role.