A jury refers to a group of peers who are brought together under oath for the purpose of rendering an impartial verdict against a person who has allegedly broken a law in their jurisdiction. A jury may also be brought together in order to render a judgment or penalty against a person or entity.
The word jury derives from the French word for sworn "juré." Juries are typically used in common-law adversarial jurisdictions.
The role of a jury can be described as that of a finder of fact. This differs from the role of the judge. A judge has the sole responsibility of interpreting the appropriate law and instructing the jury according to that law. A jury is responsible for determining the truth or falsity of the facts alleged in a case and renders a verdict on whether a criminal defendant is guilty or whether a civil defendant is civilly liable.