Legal Definitions - petty jury

A petty jury, also known as a petit jury, is a group of individuals selected according to the law to decide questions of fact and return a verdict in a specific case. The jury is empaneled and summoned to hear a case and make a decision based on the evidence presented to them.

For example, in a criminal trial, a petty jury is selected to determine whether the defendant is guilty or not guilty of the charges brought against them. In a civil trial, the jury is responsible for deciding whether the defendant is liable for damages or not.

The size of a petty jury can vary, but it usually consists of six or twelve individuals. The jury must be impartial and have no opinion about the case at the start of the trial. They base their verdict solely on the evidence presented to them during the trial.