jury-box
Definition
Noun: The enclosed area in a courtroom where the jury sits during a trial. - The "jury-box" is a specifically designated space, usually a raised or partitioned seating area, reserved for the group of people (the jury) who listen to evidence and deliver a verdict.
Usage Examples
- (The place where the jury sits in the courtroom.)
- (The specific seating area for the jury.)
Advanced Usage
"to be in the jury-box": to be serving as a member of a jury.
- She felt nervous sitting in the jury-box for the first time. (She was experiencing the role of a juror in the designated area.)
"to look toward the jury-box": to direct attention to the jury's seating area, often during a critical moment in a trial.
- The defendant looked nervously toward the jury-box. (The defendant glanced at the jury's seating area.)
Variants and Related Words
Jury (n): a group of people sworn to give a verdict in a legal case based on evidence.
- The jury deliberated for hours before reaching a decision. (The group of people responsible for the verdict.)
Jury-room (n): the private room where the jury discusses the case.
- The jurors were led to the jury-room to begin their deliberations. (A room separate from the jury-box.)
Synonyms
- Jury seat: an alternative term for the place where a juror sits.
- Jury enclosure: a more formal term for the enclosed area.
Related Idioms
- To be in the jury-box: to be in a position of judgment or evaluation (sometimes used metaphorically).
- As a critic, he feels like he is always in the jury-box. (He is constantly judging or evaluating others.)