how to explain reasonable doubt to a jury

The clear and convincing evidence standard s often applied in administrative court cases, such as a prisoner who is seeking habeas corpus from capital punishment. The party that bears the burden of proof must present evidence that shows it is highly likely and substantially more probable that a fact in question occurred. It is more than a preponderance of the evidence but less than beyond reasonable doubt.

Clear and convincing evidence is the middle standard of proof.

If there is just one more sheet of paper in one stack than the other, the plaintiff has met his burden of proof. Lawyers often use the example of two equal stacks of paper. It applies in civil cases and means that a judge or jury thinks something is slightly more likely to have happened than not.

A preponderance of the evidence is the lowest standard of proof.

The American legal system recognizes three burdens of proof.

Beyond a Reasonable Doubt is the Highest Standard of Proof In a criminal case, the prosecution bears the burden of proving every element of a crime, beyond a reasonable doubt. The burden of proof refers to the allegations a party must prove at trial to establish the facts that are in dispute.

To find someone guilty, the Constitution requires that a person be proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Beyond a reasonable doubt is the highest burden of proof in the American legal system.

How to explain reasonable doubt to a jury