Definition

1. Noun:
   • A member of a jury: A "juror" is a person who has been selected and sworn in to serve on a jury in a court of law. Their duty is to listen to the evidence presented during a trial and help reach a verdict.
   • A person summoned for jury service: A "juror" can also refer to someone who has been called to potentially serve on a jury, whether they are ultimately selected or are waiting in the jury pool.

Usage

• The word "juror" is used to identify an individual participating in the legal system's jury process. It is a formal term commonly found in legal, news, and official contexts.

Examples

• As a seated jury member:
  • The juror listened carefully to the witness's testimony.
  • One juror had a question for the judge.
• As a person in the jury pool:
  • Potential jurors waited in the courthouse hallway.
  • She was excused from serving as a juror due to a personal conflict.

Advanced Usage

• "Alternate juror": A juror selected to hear the case and replace a regular juror if one becomes unable to continue.
  • Two alternate jurors were chosen in case of illness during the long trial.
• "Hung jury": A situation where jurors cannot agree on a unanimous verdict.
  • The trial ended in a mistrial because the jury was hung; one juror refused to change their vote.

Variants and Related Words

• Jury (n): The whole group of jurors sworn to render a verdict.
  • The jury returned a verdict of not guilty.
• Juryman/Jurywoman (n): Older, gender-specific terms for a male or female juror. "Juror" is now the standard, gender-neutral term.
• Jury duty (n): The civic obligation to serve as a juror.
  • He received a summons for jury duty.

Synonyms

• Jury member: A direct synonym.
• Trier of fact: A more formal legal term emphasizing the juror's role in determining facts.

Related Phrases

• To be seated as a juror: To be officially chosen and sworn in for a specific trial.
  • After questioning, twelve citizens were seated as jurors.
• To be dismissed as a juror: To be excused from jury service, either during selection or a trial.
  • The judge dismissed the juror for discussing the case outside the courtroom.

Idioms

• A jury of one's peers: The principle that an accused person should be judged by a jury composed of people from a similar community.
  • The defendant has the right to a trial by a jury of his peers.

Noun

1. someone who serves (or waits to be called to serve) on a jury