Legal Definitions - privy verdict

A privy verdict is a type of verdict given by a jury after the judge has left or adjourned the court. The jury agrees on the verdict and obtains permission to give it privately to the judge out of court so that the jurors can be released from their confinement. However, such a verdict is of no force unless afterwards affirmed in open court. This practice has been replaced by rendering a sealed verdict.

Example: In a criminal trial, the jury reaches a verdict after the judge has left the court. They ask for permission to give the verdict privately to the judge out of court. The judge agrees, and the jury gives the verdict to the judge privately. However, the verdict is not valid until it is affirmed in open court.

This example illustrates how a privy verdict is given privately to the judge out of court and is not valid until it is affirmed in open court.