In the U.S. legal system, who is responsible for determining the facts of a case and rendering a verdict?

In the U.S. legal system, the jury is responsible for determining the facts of a case and rendering a verdict. This role is fundamental to the concept of trial by jury as established in the Sixth and Seventh Amendments of the Bill of Rights. The jury, typically composed of a group of citizens, listens to the evidence presented during a trial, evaluates the credibility of witnesses, and ultimately decides whether the evidence meets the burden of proof required to convict in criminal cases or to find in favor of a party in civil cases.

The jury's function is critical because it embodies the democratic principle of having ordinary citizens participate in the justice process. Their decision must be based solely on the evidence presented in court and the legal instructions provided by the judge, ensuring that the verdict reflects a collective judgment rather than that of a single individual.

While the judge presides over the trial and ensures adherence to legal standards and procedures, their role is distinct from that of the jury, which focuses on fact-finding and verdict delivery. The prosecutor represents the state in criminal cases, presenting evidence to prove the defendant's guilt, while the defendant is the individual accused of the offense, and does not have a role in determining the case's facts or rendering a verdict. Thus,