Verdict - Encyclopedia

GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES

VERDICT (0. Fr. verdit, Lat. were dictum, truly said, used in Late Latin in one word with its present significance), the decision of a jury in a criminal or civil cause, given to the court through the foreman of the jury and recorded. In English law verdicts may be "general," i.e. in criminal cases "guilty" or "not guilty," or "special," when there is some question of law which the jury wish to leave to the consideration of the court; in this case the verdict is given in the form of a statement of facts as found by the jury, and the issue is left to be found by the court in accordance with the law upon such facts as found (see JuRY).