Legal Definitions - wrong verdict

Wrong Verdict

A verdict that the law does not authorize a jury to render because the conclusion drawn is not justified by the evidence.

• A jury finds a defendant guilty of a crime, but there is no evidence to support the verdict.
• A jury finds a defendant not guilty of a crime, but there is overwhelming evidence to support a guilty verdict.

A wrong verdict is a decision made by a jury that is not supported by the evidence presented in court. For example, if a jury finds a defendant guilty of a crime, but there is no evidence to support the verdict, then it is a wrong verdict. Similarly, if a jury finds a defendant not guilty of a crime, but there is overwhelming evidence to support a guilty verdict, then it is also a wrong verdict. Wrong verdicts can be overturned on appeal because they are not based on the evidence presented in court.