12 Angry Men

counsel

a lawyer or attorney

defendant

a person, company, etc., who is accused of something and taken to courtprosecution

prosecution

the legal team who presents the case in a criminal trial against an individual suspect of breaking the law (the defendant)

testimony

the statement or declaration of a witness under oath

burden of proof

the obligation to establish a fact by proof; this is the prosecutor’s responsibility; the obligation to offer evidence that the court or jury could reasonably believe

motive

something that causes a person to act in a certain way or do a certain thing; ex: revenge, jealousy, anger

alibi

an excused, defense, or explanation or the defendant’s whereabouts at the time of the crime

circumstantial evidence

evidence in which an inference is required to connect it to a conclusion or a fact

premeditated homicide/murder

a murder that was done on purpose (not accidental) or one that was planned in advance; first-degree murder

foreman

head juror; role is to ask questions on behalf of the jury, facilitate any jury discussions, and sometimes to read the verdict of the jury

reasonable doubt

the level of certainty a juror must have to find the defendant guilt crime; there must be no reasonable doubt in the mind of a juror that the defendant is guilty; reasonable means sensible not foolish

deliberate

to consider carefully; 12 Angry Men takes place in this point in the trial

verdict

the jury’s final decision; either not guilty or guilty

acquitted

declared not guilty

hung jury

a jury that can’t come to an agreement on a verdict

double jeopardy

the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution states that no person shall “be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb”; means that no one can be punished more than once for the same crime.