sgc],kw]mI;AL,mKam],pn]w}.wL:hG]:l}:sqt]:Tt];tt];Sin]lUv]:Kun]sg}:Tt];kYO;rI;nn].hiuw]?" Am I guaranteed a trial by jury?
puc],man],mn];Et.'mG];mI;An]AL,mKam],pn]w}.Sun],l}:sqt]:Tt];tt];Sin]lUv]:Kun]sg}:Tt];Sin]kYO;rI; nn].yU,'tL,An]pUn].pqn]tac];Pit];rL,swUt]:TiUk]:vL;tam],Tgc],nm]liUw]hUk];liUn]nn]."tac];Pit];rL, swUt]:mQw];An]sac]:pn]tam],eA,eShUk];liUn]nn].n}.k}.wUn].Sgn],wL:pQn]tac];Pit];rL,swUt]:!lQk]. ng}.@n}eS'Am],tap]:lUw],pn]mG];mI;Sun]l}:sqt]:Tt];tt];Sin]lUv]:Kun]sg}:Tt];kYO;rI;nn].Sc]yw]." An]sqt]:Tt];tt];Sin]lUv]:Kun]sg}:Tt];kYO;rI;n}.'SPL,wmn];pQn]sum];Kw]:pL;hUk];ekL.etL,Sip];Sgc] ekL.'tac];lQk].tac];yG],sum];mn];n}.etAic]niUw]lgc]:nk];nLtac];Pit];rL,swUt]:nn].yw]."Kgt],ygt]: liun];Sut];mn];n}.'An]etl}:Kam],vL;En;tac];Pit];tI:Kun]sg}:Tt];kYO;rI;Kw]n}n}.tk];lUw],l}:pQn] An]Kw]Pgm].kn]SQc]:SQc]:eSEn;tac];Pit];SG],nn].yU,yw].'n}.pgc],wL:'PU:Kw]:sum];Kun]sg}:Tt];kYO;rI; Kw]tk];lUw],pQn]An]Pgm].l}:sG]kn]SQc]:SQc]:'n}yw]."kUv];kL:mn];yc];mI;eKL:wQn].w}.nG];mac]es:miUc];nn]. wL:'nG];PU:Kw]:sum];Kun]sg}:Tt];kYO;rI;Sip];Sgc],ekL.nn].'Kw]Sip];ekL.n}.sac]:tgt]:Em;eSEn;tac]; Pit];SG],ekL.l}:Kam],tiUc],nn].l}:yU,'wL:n}yw]." Generally, you are guaranteed a right to trial by jury for criminal offenses that carry a penalty of more than six months of imprisonment. Crimes that are punishable by less than six months are often considered "petty" crimes and do not necessarily give you the right to a trial by jury. Juries typically range in size from six to twelve members, and the size often reflects the seriousness of the crime. Finally, jury convictions must usually be unanimous, meaning that all jury members must agree. There are exceptions in a few states where only ten out of twelve jury members can vote to convict the defendant.epL;wL:ekL.l}:Kam],tiUc],n}.Am],mI;tam],tac];Pit];Sc]n}ekL:'mn];sa};Am],nn]mn];yic];sac]:lUw],l}: Kam],Sak]:eS,hQt];Sc]lL,?" If a defendant is not guilty, why wouldn't he or she testify?
kUn];miUc];AEm,rikn],km]:nm]n}.miut]:yU,Sw];sgm];An]wL:'ekL.l}:Kam],tiUc],Kw]!lw]:lat]:Tiuc]:eKL:Ti5'@ wL:n}nn].ekL:'kUv];eK;etAm],p},miut]:pgc],sG]sgm];An]wL:'!Aw]eKL:Ti5@nn].KG]:wL:pgc],Sc]siUc].hiuw]n} nn].Et.Et."eKL:mUn].Em;eKL:Ti5n}.pn]hG]:ekL.l}:Kam],tiUc],AmurL,swUt]:Kw]'mI;Sun],tL,etTQc]wL: Kw]Am],KG]:Kam],Sak]:eS,'nn].El:Aik],'Sun],ygn];hG]:pUc]eKL:sinam];w}.niUw]Kun]sg}:Tt];kYO;rI;Kw]nn]. wL:'Kw]etAm],l}:lam];eSwL:ekL.l}:Kam],tiUc],n}.'mI;tam],tac];Pit];ygn].wL:Kw]Am],tk];SQc]yU,tQt], yQn]SI,w}.'n}nn].yw]." Most Americans are familiar with defendants "pleading the 5th", but may not be as familiar with what "taking the 5th"really means. The 5th Amendment gives criminal defendants the right to decline to testify and requires that jurors be instructed that they can't assume the defendant's guilt by the their silence.eKL:sI.nam];An]n}.n}.lm],lgc]:nL,nL,'kgp]:piUw]:mI;SPL,wTuc];sam],mn];An]niuc]:n}.wL:'epL;Am],Kam], Sak]:eS,piut],pak],lat]:Agk],Sc]n}siuc]hG]:lam];wL:ekL.l}:Kam],tiUc],n}.l}:hQt];Pit];w}.eSsiUw].eSpiUc]' wL:n}nn].yw]."PiUw],tL.ethQt];nn]'lUw],l}:wL:yUw]eK;PU:Sac]:tac]pk];piUc]pun]:ekL.l}:Kam],tiUc],n}.sI. sm]:mn];s}a;Am],nn]mn];nac];w}.wL:'yL,hG]:piut],pak],lat]:Agk],Kam],Sak]:eS,'ygn].piUw]:An]'-'
· epL;mn];kGL,suk];Kam],Sak]:eS,siuc]'miUn]An]ekL.l}:Kam],tiUc],n}.piut],PiUv]lgc]:miUw]:kgn],wn];Agn] mn];pn]hG]:Pa},Aw]ey;sg};JtL;SG],nn].sac]:sUk];Tam]"n}.sm].pgc],wL:'Pa},Aw]ey;sg};JtL;SG],n}. sac]:kuv].Agk],Kaw],pgc],lqc];pn]'mQw];An]tum].tiUw].kuc],Ser,nL:tL'Am],nn]'hG]:Ser,lunn].eS' hQt];hG]:Ser,El:lgc]:TiUk]:yum],l}:niUw]ekL.l}:Kam],tiUc],nn].lulqw]kg}PImn];kGL,pqt]:"
· Sc]wL:ekL.l}:Kam],tiUc],n}.Kam],Sak]:eS,siuc]'Pa},Aw]ey;sg};JtL;SG],n}.sac]:eK;etkuv].Agk], lgc]:piun];tac];Pit];rL,swUt]:mn];yam]:hQt];Pit];mL;nn]."
· ekL.l}:Kam],tiUc],n}.'sac]:eK;pQn]ekL.Am],epL;mI;SUp];mI;SQc]'lqp]:sG]lm]w}.'Am],nn]nL:ha}.sL. nL,'kUw]Aa}epL;KQc]:epL;Kqc]'w}.nn].El:kGL,pQn]An]Kun]sg}:Tt];kYO;rI,Kw]kQp];Aw]tI:pgc]mn];wL:' hQt];hiuw]ekL:ekL.l}:Kam],tiUc],n}.mI;tam],tac];Pit];w}.eSsiUw].eSpiUc]n}nn].'
· ekL.l}:Kam],tiUc],n}.Am]sG]:ekL.mI;!nL:lImiut]:@nn].El:'PU:Sac]:tac]pk];piUc]Pa},etL,SU:kqt], EKn}.'Am],KG]:ekL.mL;piuc]:mn];l}:Tuk],vL;tam],ygn].piUw]:hac]:Pac]tac];yam]:tUw]kw],mn];sa};Am], nn]mn];nac];nn]."sac]:pQn]ygn].siUw];n}.l}:yU,"
This instruction is crucial, because there is a natural tendency to assume that by not testifying, the defendant has done something wrong. Instead, the defendant may have been instructed by his or her lawyer to not testify because:
- By taking the stand and testifying, the defendant opens up his or her past to questioning by the prosecution. This means that the prosecution can bring up information to discredit or tarnish the defendant's reputation and believability.
- If a defendant testifies, a prosecutor may be able to bring up past crimes.
- The defendant may be a poor public speaker, seem angry, or even worse, nervous, which many jurors infer means the defendant is guilty of something.
- The defendant is simply not a "likeable" person, and the defense attorney does not want the client being convicted for his or her personality.
nG];Ek:An]Pit];rL,swUt]:tam],nk];el:Pit];rL,swUt]:tam],mw]nn].'mn];pqk],piUc]:kn]siUc].hiuw]?" What's the difference between a felony and a misdemeanor?
puc],man],mn];Et.'tac];Pit];rL,swUt]:tam],nk];n}.Kw]:pQn]mQw];tac];Pit];rL,wUt]:ha}.haw]:kYam];nL,nn]. eS'sac]:pQn]An]ekL.l}:Kam],tiUc],n}.l}:vL;tam],tUk];Tgc],hiuc]'SPL,wmn];mgk]:pIniuc]:Am],nn]hiuc]liUw] nn].'nn].yw]."An]Kt];kn]w}.n}.'tac];Pit];rL,swUt]:tam],mw]n}.'Kw]:pQn]tac];Pit];rL,swUt]:mQw]; An]k}.hG]:ekL.l}:Kam],tiUc],n}.pn]tam],ciun];eSEl:'mac]pgk]:n}.l}:tUk];Tgc],ekL:'SPL,wmn];n}.k}.eA, eSpIniuc]:nn]."mI;tac];Pit];rL,swUt]:tc];nm]An]sac]:sg};JtL;SG],wL:pQn]tac];Pit];rL,wUt]:tam],nk]; Am],nn]ekL:tac];Pit];rL,swUt]:tam],mw]'n}nn].l}:'Aic]niUw]:tac];ha}.haw]:kYam];tac];Pit];rL,swUt]: nn].El:tac];KG]:hQt];Pa},Aw]Aey;sg};JtL;SG],nn].'yU,yw]."tI:Kgt],ygt]:lUp];lc]mn];sm].'tac]; hQt];An]l}:Kam],pn]tam],ciun];kUv];nn].n}.'SPL,wmn];n}.Et.'mn];Am],sG]:tac];Pit];rL,swUt]:nc], kaw],'mn];etL.Et.wL:pQn]An]Pit];pUn].ma}mI:An]niuc]:kUv];'(miUn]nc],An]hQt];ha}.pUn].pqn]ma}mI:ehL:kL; ehLhiUw];nn].)" Generally, a felony is considered a more severe crime and as a result, the defendant is given more jail time - typically a year or more. In contrast, misdemeanors are considered lesser crimes and are often punished by making the defendant pay a fine and sometimes serve jail time, but typically less than a year. Many crimes can be charged as either a felony or misdemeanor, depending on the severity of the crime and the prosecutor's inclination. Finally, conduct punished only by a fine is typically not a crime at all, but rather an infraction (such as a traffic violation).An]wL:ekL.l}:Kam],tiUc],n}.'!AUn]:sG]AUn]:eKL;Am],Kam],l}:lgc]:sqt]:Tam]Tt];Sin]nn].'@n}n}.mn]; KG]:wL:pgc],Sc]? What does it mean that a defendant is "incompetent to stand trial"?
Sc]wL:mn];lqp]:etpQn]An]ekL.l}:Kam],tiUc],n}.'Am],sac]:hU.pgc],sqc]:lqc];sG]l}:sn].An]Aw]ey;sg}; JtL;En;SG],Kw]w}.nn].El:Sc]'Am],km].Tqm]PU:Sac]:tac]pk];piUc]pun]:tL,etL,SU:kqt],EKpn]Kw]nn]. l}:n}El:Sc]'epL;nn]siuc]'Kun]Tt];Sin]n}.etpUc]eKL:Sc],tL,hG]:Tt];Tgc]tUv];ekL.l}:Kam],tiUc],nn].' n}yU,yw]."lgc]:tL,Tt];Tgc]nn].etpQn]PU:lUc].lqn],Sa},kUw],pa};sG]'ekL.hQt];kan]Pa},sgp],tUv];lgc]: pqt]:lgc]:lqn]nn].ethQt];'piUw]:wL:'ekL.l}:Kam],tiUc],tc];nm]Kw]n}.k}.hQt];kQc]:wL:pQn]lUm];hUw]sG]Am],epL; lIn}eS'Aac]:ethLEw:pqt]:tam],nn]." If it seems like a defendant is simply not capable of understanding what the state is accusing them of and is unable to assist their attorney in their defense, then a judge may order an evaluation of the defendant. The evaluation will be performed by a psychological professional who is practiced as detecting deception since many defendants may feign mental illness to avoid punishmentepL;wL:ekL.l}:Kam],tiUc],ekL.niuc]:n}.l}:An]piun]Paw],mak];ma}wL:'mn];pQn]ekL.AUn]:sG]AUn]:eKL;nn].wL:n} ekL:'n}.Am],KG]:pgc],wL:Kw]kGL,l}:lgt]:lgt]:lqw];lqw];yw].n}nn].nc],kaw],"PUiw],tL.etpQn]nn]'mn];KG]: pgc],wL:'etl}:Aw]ekL.l}:Kam],tiUc],nn].Kiun]:hUc];yLPa}sG]tI:An]mI;lgc]:hUm],lUm]:nn].'liUw]eSAn]Aw] mn];kGL,SG],Tgc],'han].etL,ekL.l}:Kam],tiUc],n}.yum],wL:mn];mI;nm].kt].EK.KQc],Kiun];l}:nn].'wL:n}" If a defendant is declared incompetent, it does not mean that they can simply go free. Instead, it means that the defendant will be placed into a secure mental hospital, rather than a jail, until the defendant is deemed competent to stand trial.
kQp];Aw]tI:pgc],mn];' = Infer, -Conclude or judge for premise, guess, speculate,
kUw]Aa}epL;KQc]:epL;Kqc]' = Nervous, -Highly excited, timid, tense,
ekL.Am],epL;mI;SUp];mI;SQc]' = Poor public speaker,
Kw]:pQn]An]' = Is/are considered,
eKL:k}.Tam]' eKL:k}.k}.Tam]' = FAQ, -Frequently asked questions ,
sgp],tUv];' = Detect,
etL.Et.pQn]' = Rather, somewhat,
wL:sG]:lum];lum];' = Affirmatively, -Asserting the truth, affirm,
nL:lImiut]:' = Likeable, nice, preferable, pleasant,
EnSak]:eS,km].Tqm]pn]' = To prove,
pun]:Pgn];EnSak]:eS,' = Burden of proof, -Responsibility to prove, the obligation to offer evidence,
Pit];pUn].ma}mI:' = Infraction, breach,
mI;w}.niUw]' = Onto,
hac]:Pac]tac];yam]:tUw]kw],' = Personality, -The visible aspect of one’s character impress others,
hQt];kQc]:wL:pQn]' = Feign, pretend,
hG]:Ser,luu' = Tarnish, -To injure credit or reputation, defame, discredit, blemish,
lQk].ng}.' = Petty, trivial, insignificant, little,
lUm];hUw]sG]Am],epL;lI' = Mental illness,
Am],tap]:lUw],' = Unnecessary, not necessary, not essential,
Aw]Aey;'(An]-) = Prosecution, -The institution or carrying on of legal proceedings against a person ,
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