Trial

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For other uses, see Trial (disambiguation).

Criminal procedure

Criminal trials and convictions

Rights of the accused

 Fair trial
 Pre-trial
 Speedy trial
 Jury trial
 Counsel
 Presumption of innocence
 Exclusionary rule1
 Self-incrimination
 Double jeopardy2
 Bail

Verdict

 Conviction
 Acquittal
 Not proven3
 Directed verdict

Sentencing

 Mandatory
 Suspended
 Custodial
 Periodic
 Discharge
 Guidelines

 Totality5, 6
  Dangerous offender4, 5
 Capital punishment
 Execution warrant

 Cruel and unusual punishment

 Imprisonment
 Life imprisonment
 Indefinite imprisonment
 Three-strikes law

Post-sentencing

 Parole
 Probation
 Tariff 6
 Life licence6
 Miscarriage of justice
 Exoneration
 Pardon
 Recidivism
 Habitual offender
 Sex offender registration
 Sexually violent predator legislation1

Related areas of law

 Criminal defenses
 Criminal law
 Evidence
 Civil procedure

Portals

  Law portal

  US courts
1

  Not in English/Welsh courts

2

  Scottish courts
3

 4
 English/Welsh courts

 5
 Canadian courts
  6
 UK courts

 v
 t
 e
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Trial of Jean II, Duke of Alençon, October 1458.

A trial in California. The judge is seated at the front of the room.

In law, a trial is a coming together of parties to a dispute, to present information (in the
form of evidence) in a tribunal, a formal setting with the authority to adjudicate claims or
disputes. One form of tribunal is a court. The tribunal, which may occur before
a judge, jury, or other designated trier of fact, aims to achieve a resolution to their
dispute.
 Contents

 1Types by finder of fact

 2Types by dispute

o 2.1Criminal

o 2.2Civil

o 2.3Administrative

o 2.4Labor

 3Systems

o 3.1Adversarial

o 3.2Inquisitorial

 4Mistrials

 5Other types

 6See also

 7References

 8External links

Types by finder of fact[edit]

Where the trial is held before a group of members of the community, it is called a jury
trial. Where the trial is held solely before a judge, it is called a bench trial.
Hearings before administrative bodies may have many of the features of a trial before a
court, but are typically not referred to as trials.
An appellate proceeding is also generally not deemed a trial, because such proceedings
are usually restricted to review of the evidence presented before the trial court, and do
not permit the introduction of new evidence.

Types by dispute[edit]
Trials can also be divided by the type of dispute at issue.
Criminal[edit]

The Old Bailey in London (in 1808) was the venue for more than 100,000 criminal trials between 1674 and
1834.

A criminal trial is designed to resolve accusations brought (usually by a government)

against a person accused of a crime. In common law systems, most
criminal defendants are entitled to a trial held before a jury. Because the state is
attempting to use its power to deprive the accused of life, liberty, or property, the rights
of the accused afforded to criminal defendants are typically broad. The rules of criminal
procedure provide rules for criminal trials.
Civil[edit]
A civil trial is generally held to settle lawsuits or civil claims—non-criminal disputes. In
some countries, the government can both sue and be sued in a civil capacity. The rules
of civil procedure provide rules for civil trials.
Administrative[edit]
Although administrative hearings are not ordinarily considered trials, they retain many
elements found in more "formal" trial settings. When the dispute goes to judicial setting,
it is called an administrative trial, to revise the administrative hearing, depending on the
jurisdiction. The types of disputes handled in these hearings is governed
by administrative law and auxiliarily by the civil trial law.
Labor[edit]
Main article: Labor and employment law

This section needs expansion. You

can help by adding to it. (May 2008)

Labor law (also known as employment law) is the body of laws, administrative rulings,
and precedents which address the legal rights of, and restrictions on, working people
and their organizations. As such, it mediates many aspects of the relationship between
trade unions, employers and employees. In Canada, employment laws related to
unionized workplaces are differentiated from those relating to particular individuals. In
most countries however, no such distinction is made. However, there are two broad
categories of labour law. First, collective labour law relates to the tripartite relationship
between employee, employer and union. Second, individual labour law concerns
employees' rights at work and through the contract for work. The labour movement has
been instrumental in the enacting of laws protecting labour rights in the 19th and 20th
centuries. Labour rights have been integral to the social and economic development
since the industrial revolution.