jury trial

noun

: a trial that is decided by a jury

I demand my right to a jury trial.

Examples of jury trial in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Nor that years on, and millions of dollars in legal fees later, the dispute would remain constant public fodder, heading to a May jury trial in a Manhattan federal courtroom. —Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 30 Apr. 2026

His siblings Maureen Brown, who was his legal guardian, and Eddie Showmaker are now suing the caretaker, along with the care company, Easterseals Midwest, for damages and demanding a jury trial. —Chiara Kim, PEOPLE, 29 Apr. 2026

Between 2016 and 2025, there were 492 murder trials in state court, with just 86 of the defendants choosing a bench trial, also known as a court trial, over a jury trial. —Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 29 Apr. 2026

The plaintiff, identified as Jane Doe, is seeking monetary damages and a jury trial. —Lexi Nicklaus, Baltimore Sun, 28 Apr. 2026

Rhymes for jury trial

• denial
• mistrial
• posttrial
• pretrial
• retrial
• dial
• rial
• thiol
• vial
• sensorial
• supervisorial

Legal Definition

jury trial

noun

: a trial in which a jury serves as the trier of fact

called also trial by jury

compare bench trial

Note: The right to a jury trial is established in the U.S. Constitution, but it is not an absolute right. The Supreme Court has stated that petty crimes (as those carrying a sentence of up to 6 months) do not require trial by jury. The right to a jury trial in a criminal case may be waived by the “express and intelligent consent” of the defendant, usually in writing, as well as, in federal cases, the approval of the court and consent of the prosecutor. There is no right to a jury trial in equity cases. When a civil case involves both legal and equitable issues or procedure, either party may demand a jury trial (and failure to do so is taken as a waiver), but the judge may find that there is no right to a jury trial because of equitable issues or claims.