When there are insufficient jurors voting one way or the other to deliver either a guilty or not guilty verdict, the jury is known as a “hung jury” or it might be said that jurors are “deadlocked”. In the event of a mistrial, the defendant is not convicted, but neither is the defendant acquitted.

Definition. At the end of a criminal trial, a finding by a judge or jury that a defendant is not guilty. An acquittal signifies that a prosecutor failed to prove his or her case beyond a reasonable doubt, not that a defendant is innocent.

“Not guilty” and “acquittal” are synonymous. In other words, to find a defendant not guilty is to acquit. At trial, an acquittal occurs when the jury (or the judge if it’s a judge trial) determines that the prosecution hasn’t proved the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

transitive verb. 1 : to discharge completely (as from an accusation or obligation) The court acquitted the prisoner.

Beyond a reasonable doubt is the legal burden of proof required to affirm a conviction in a criminal case. This means that the prosecution must convince the jury that there is no other reasonable explanation that can come from the evidence presented at trial.

The judge presides over the trial from a desk, called a bench, on an elevated platform. The judge has five basic tasks. The first is simply to preside over the proceedings and see that order is maintained. The second is to determine whether any of the evidence that the parties want to use is illegal or improper.

The Wig. The culture of lawyers wearing wigs in court actually has its roots in, believe it or not, fashion! Those who wore wigs in order to hide the fact that they were getting bald. Those who wore wigs because they had shaved their hair in order to prevent infestations (lice infestations was a big worry back then).

In English law, the black cap was worn by a judge when passing a sentence of death. Although it is called a “cap”, it is not made to fit the head as a typical cap does; instead it is a simple plain square made of black fabric. It was based on Tudor Court headgear.

The Black colour was chosen because of two reasons. However, the main reason behind wearing a ‘Black Coat’ is because black is the colour of authority and power. Black represents submission of oneself. Just like Priests wear Black to show their submission to God, Lawyers wear black to show their submission to Justice.

Bands are a form of formal neckwear, worn by some clergy and lawyers, and with some forms of academic dress. They take the form of two oblong pieces of cloth, usually though not invariably white, which are tied to the neck. Standing ruffs were common with legal, and official dress till comparatively late.

The wigs, or perukes as they were called, were convenient because they were relatively easy to maintain, only needing to be sent to a wigmaker for a delousing. As wigs became more popular, they became a status symbol for people to flaunt their wealth.

Formal Business Dress Code: Lawyers should wear a white dress shirt which a neutral collared tie beneath their tailored suit. Common suit colors include gray or navy (note: wearing black is known to represent funerals which are advised to avoid in the courtroom environment).

Dress Codes for Female Lawyers A blazer or suit jacket is typically a must in most law firms, whether you wear pants or a skirt. Skirts are perfectly acceptable for female lawyers, as long as the skirt conforms to a certain style. Avoid skirts that flare or have ruffles, as well as wrap style skirts.

A suit to many lawyers is a validation of worth. A suit says, “look at me, I’m a lawyer.” A suit is meant to intimidate. Having a nicer, more expensive suit than the other lawyer, puts you on top. Meeting with a client while wearing a suit immediately tells them how important you are.

Another lawyer said that there are actually two forms of the word and that a female esquire is in fact an “esquiress.”

In the U.S., the title Esquire is commonly encountered among members of the legal profession. [7] The term is used for both male and female lawyers.

Address an attorney as “Mr.” or “Ms.” in most contexts. In the salutation for a later or email, address an attorney the same way you would any other respected professional, using “Mr.” or “Ms.” followed by their surname. Generally, this is the best way to address an attorney if you’ve never spoken to them before.