Legal Definitions - Verdict

A verdict is the decision made by a jury or judge in a court case. It is the conclusion reached after considering all the evidence and arguments presented in the case.

For example, in the case of United States v. Booker, the Supreme Court made a verdict that changed the way federal judges sentence criminal defendants.

Verdicts can take different forms, such as a general verdict, which is a simple "guilty" or "not guilty" decision, or a special verdict, which requires the jury to answer specific questions about the case. In some cases, a judge may also make a verdict in a bench trial, where there is no jury present.

Overall, a verdict is the final decision in a court case that determines the outcome and any consequences for the parties involved.