Legal Definitions - jury pardon

Definition: Jury pardon is a rule that allows a jury to find a defendant guilty of a lesser offense than the one they were charged with if there is enough evidence to support a conviction for either offense.

Example: Let's say a person is charged with first-degree murder, but the evidence presented during the trial only supports a conviction for second-degree murder. The jury can use the rule of jury pardon to find the defendant guilty of the lesser offense of second-degree murder instead of acquitting them altogether.

Explanation: The example illustrates how the rule of jury pardon works in practice. It allows the jury to consider all the evidence presented during the trial and make a decision based on what they believe the defendant is guilty of, even if it's not the exact offense they were charged with. This rule helps ensure that justice is served and that defendants are not wrongly acquitted due to technicalities.