Definition

Noun: 1. (Criminal Law) A finding that the defendant is guilty of some charges but innocent of others: A "partial verdict" is a decision by a jury in a criminal trial where the defendant is found guilty on at least one count or charge, but not guilty on at least one other count. It represents a mixed outcome, differentiating between the specific allegations.

Usage

A "partial verdict" is a formal legal term used in court proceedings. It is returned by a jury when they have reached a decision on some, but not necessarily all, of the charges against a defendant. This allows for a nuanced judgment, acknowledging that the evidence supports conviction on specific charges while not supporting others.

Examples

• The jury returned a partial verdict, convicting the defendant of burglary but acquitting him of the more serious charge of armed robbery.
• After three days of deliberation, the judge accepted a partial verdict of guilty on the fraud counts; the jury remained deadlocked on the conspiracy charge.
• A partial verdict can be a compromise, reflecting the jury's careful consideration of the distinct elements of each separate charge.

Advanced Usage

• Accepting a Partial Verdict: A judge may choose to accept a partial verdict from the jury on the counts they have agreed upon, while declaring a mistrial on the remaining counts where the jury is "hung" (cannot reach a unanimous decision). This finalizes the case for the decided charges.
• Contrast with General Verdict: Unlike a general verdict of simply "guilty" or "not guilty" on all charges as a block, a partial verdict requires the jury to consider each charge independently.

Variants and Related Words

• Verdict (n): The formal finding of fact made by a jury on matters submitted to it by a judge.
• Guilty Verdict (n): A finding that the defendant is legally responsible for the crime charged.
• Not Guilty Verdict (n): A finding that the prosecution has not proved the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
• Hung Jury (n): A jury that cannot agree upon a unanimous verdict. A partial verdict may be taken before a hung jury is declared on the remaining counts.

Synonyms

• Mixed verdict
• Split verdict

Antonyms

• Complete acquittal (verdict of not guilty on all charges)
• Conviction on all counts (guilty verdict on every charge)

Noun

1. (criminal law) a finding that the defendant is guilty of some charges but innocent of others