When it comes to the American legal system, a court trial is the ultimate way to decide a dispute or controversy. It is when two parties, normally consisting of a plaintiff (the person filing the lawsuit) and a defendant (the one being sued) argue their cases before a judge and/or a jury. The parties present evidence and testimony in an attempt to prove their point and prove their case. The judge or the jury must then decide who is in the right, usually based on the preponderance of evidence presented.
The Purpose of a Court Trial
Court trials are intended to allow the parties involved to present their case and let a qualified panel of jurors or a judge decide the case. This is the fairest way to settle a disagreement or legally resolve a dispute. Most court trials occur in a civil setting, meaning the dispute or disagreement involves two private parties, not a criminal act, but it is not uncommon for criminal cases to also go to trial.
Notable Court Trials In History
Throughout the years, famous court trials have made headlines due to their intense nature and the gravity of the issues being discussed. For example, the Watergate scandal in the 1970s culminated with a 12-week long court trial with 37 government officials being indicted. In the 1990s, the O.J. Simpson murder trial became a national phenomenon and remains to this day one of the most widely-known trials of the century. Finally, in the 2000s, the trial of Casey Anthony became the subject of worldwide media attention.
Modern Court Trials
Today, court trials still take place in any number of topics, ranging from civil and criminal cases to medical malpractice and intellectual property disputes. Each trial will involve a unique set of facts and legal questions that the judge and/or jury must evaluate in order to reach a successful conclusion. Therefore, the importance of understanding the details and complexities of court trials cannot be overstated.