In the criminal justice system, there are two types of jury trials: grand jury trials and petit jury trials. Grand jury trials are used to determine whether or not there is enough evidence to charge a person with a crime, while petit jury trials are used to determine whether or not a person is guilty of the crime they have been charged with. This blog post will focus on petit jury trials in the state of Kentucky.
Jury selection is the first stage of a criminal jury trial in Kentucky. During this stage, potential jurors are asked questions by the judge and attorneys in order to determine if they are qualified to serve on the jury. In circuit court cases (felonies) 12 jurors are selected. In district court (misdemeanors) 6 jurors are selected. In some instances, a court may empanel alternate jurors. This is usually the case when the trial is scheduled for multiple days. Once the qualified jurors have been selected, they will move on to the next stage: opening statements.
During opening statements, the prosecutor and defense attorney will each have an opportunity to give a brief overview of their case to the jury. After both sides have given their opening statements, the prosecutor will begin calling witnesses to testify. Witnesses will be subject to cross-examination by the defense attorney during this stage.
Once all witnesses have been called and both sides have rested their cases, it will be time for closing arguments. During closing arguments, each attorney will have an opportunity to summarize their case and explain why the jury should find their client guilty or not guilty. After both sides have given their closing arguments, the judge will instructions to the jury before they begin deliberations.
The final stage of a criminal jury trial in Kentucky is sentencing. If the jury finds the defendant guilty, they will recommend a sentence to the judge, who will then hand down the final sentence.
A criminal jury trial in Kentucky consists of four main stages: jury selection, opening statements, closing arguments, and sentencing. If you ever find yourself in need of a criminal defense attorney, it is important to understand how these stages work so that you can be prepared for what lies ahead.
If you or a loved one is ever involved in a criminal trial, it’s important to know what to expect. The four main stages of a criminal jury trial are jury selection, opening statements, closing arguments, and sentencing. Each stage has its own unique set of procedures and protocols that you will need to be aware of. At Mashni Law, we understand how daunting the legal process can be, which is why we offer free case evaluations so that you can get started on your defense right away. Contact us today to schedule your evaluation and let us help you put this difficult time behind you.