how to explain reasonable doubt to a jury reddit

Here is the thing – it really does not make any sense. I’ve tried a lot of cases and I’ve thought about this reasonable doubt instruction for the last fifteen years. There are more than 100,000 lawyers in Florida and currently, only 422 lawyers have that board certification. I’m a board certified criminal trial lawyer. Read that a few hundred times and see if starts to make any sense to you. On the other hand, if, after carefully considering, comparing and weighing all the evidence, there is not an abiding conviction of guilt, or, if, having a conviction, it is one which is not stable but one which wavers and vacillates, then the charge is not proved beyond every reasonable doubt and you must find the defendant not guilty because the doubt is reasonable. Such a doubt must not influence you to return a verdict of not guilty if you have an abiding conviction of guilt. This is the instruction for proof beyond a reasonable doubt:Ī reasonable doubt is not a mere possible doubt, a speculative, imaginary or forced doubt. In Florida, lawyers and judges use jury instructions to inform and educate jurors about the meanings and definitions of the laws. If someone is accused of a crime in Florida, they are innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. A fundamental part of our criminal justice system is broken.

How to explain reasonable doubt to a jury reddit