Something more than a preponderance of the evidence, but less than an absolute certainty.
In order to convict a defendant of a criminal offense, a juror or judge must believe “beyond a reasonable doubt” that the defendant committed the crime. If a juror or judge finds the evidence against the defendant inconclusive, he or she has a responsibility to find the defendant “not guilty.
Evidentiary standard used by jurors to determine if the prosecution has provided sufficient evidence to sustain a criminal conviction.
a doubt based on the judge's or juries sound judgment after a full and impartial consideration of all the evidence of the case
a doubt based upon a reason and for which a good explanation can be given
a doubt based upon reason and common sense and is not based purely on speculation
a doubt based upon reason and common sense, and may arise from a careful and impartial consideration of all the evidence, or from lack of evidence
a doubt based upon reason and common sense, and not the mere possibility of innocence
a doubt for which a sensible reason can be given
a doubt founded upon reason
a doubt that is reasonable
a doubt that would cause a reasonably careful and sensible person to hesitate before acting upon a matter of importance in his own affairs
a doubt which is based on reason and common sense
a doubt which reasonable men and women would entertain, and it must arise from the evidence or the lack of the evidence in this case
a doubt which would cause a reasonably prudent person to hesitate to act in the more important and weighty of his own personal affairs
an actual and substantial doubt
an actual doubt that you are conscious of after going over in your minds the entire case, giving consideration to all the testimony and every part of it
an honest and reasonable uncertainty about the guilt of the defendant
The definition varies from state to state. Before someone may be found guilty of DUI or DWI, the jury (or judge in those states that do not allow a jury trial for drunk driving cases) must be convinced in the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. It represents the highest legal standard in our country; it generally requires an abiding conviction (long-lasting belief) in the truth of each and every element of the charges.
The level of certainty a juror must have to find a defendant guilty of a crime.
doubt based on reason, arising from evidence or lack of evidence.
An accused person is entitled to acquittal if, in the minds of the jury, his or her guilt has not been proved beyond a "reasonable doubt;" that state of minds of jurors in which they cannot say they feel an abiding conviction as to the truth of the charge.
(1) That state of mind which after careful and impartial consideration of all the evidence falls short of moral certainty of guilt; (2) uncertainty as to guilt, for which a reason can be given after considering all the evidence.
the state of mind of jurors in a criminal case in which they are not firmly convinced of the truth of the charges or the case brought by the prosecution against the defendant
The states of mind of jurors where they cannot say they feel a conviction as to the truth of the charge. An accused person is entitled to acquittal if the jury finds his or her guilt has not been proved beyond a "reasonable doubt.
One definition for "Proof beyond a reasonable doubt" is such proof as satisfies the judgment and consciences of the jury, as reasonable men and women, and applying their reason to the evidence before them, that the crime charged has been committed by the defendant, and so satisfies them as to leave no other reasonable conclusion possible.
The state of mind of jurors when they do not feel a moral certainty about the truth of the charge, and when the evidence does not exclude every other reasonable hypothesis except that the defendant is guilty as charged.
Reasonable Doubt was rapper Jay-Z's debut hip hop album, released on June 25, 1996 (see 1996 in music). It has since sold 1.4 million copies in the US. It sold 420,000 copies in its first year and peaked at No. 23 on the Billboard Charts.