What are alternate jurors? Sometimes, when the judge believes a case is likely to last for more than a day or 2, additional jurors will be chosen from those summoned for jury duty, questioned and challenged like other prospective jurors.
Predictable Outcomes: Judges' decisions are generally more predictable than those of a jury, in which emotions or personal biases can sway. If, for example, you're assigned a judge with a record of showing leniency for mitigating circumstances, your attorney might recommend waiving the jury trial.
Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) ADR is usually less formal, less expensive, and less time-consuming than a trial. ADR can also give people more opportunity to determine when and how their dispute will be resolved. Learn more about ADR programs available in the trial courts.
Alternative Forms of Dispute Resolution for Legal Problems Arbitration. Arbitration is often viewed favorably because it can resolve a dispute more quickly than going to court. Mediation. Some cases must proceed through mediation before going to trial. Administrative Hearings. Settlement Conferences.
There are various reasons why a defendant might consider waiving their right to a jury trial. For instance, they might aim to resolve the case swiftly or keep it out of the local news. Alternatively, they might have a lengthy criminal record and wish to minimize public exposure.
The American system utilizes three types of juries: Investigative grand juries, charged with determining whether enough evidence exists to warrant a criminal indictment; petit juries (also known as a trial jury), which listen to the evidence presented during the course of a criminal trial and are charged with ...
Any party may demand a trial by jury of any issue triable of right by a jury by (1) serving upon the other parties a demand therefor in writing at any time after the commencement of the action and not later than 10 days after the service of the last pleading directed to such issue, and (2) filing the demand as required ...
The most common techniques of alternative dispute resolution include the Minitrial, Arbitration, the Summary Jury Trial, the Rent-a-Judge program, Voluntary Settlement Conferences and Private Organizations established to assist in dispute resolution.
Therefore, the constitutional right to a jury trial only applies to prosecutions involving serious offenses. A serious offense is one where the charged offense carries a maximum penalty of more than six months' imprisonment.
The constitution grants a defendant the right to a 'speedy trial'. Sometimes, the court system can be frustratingly slow when it comes to finishing up a case. A jury trial demand is simply a request that a date be set for a jury trial.