dillywho, thanks for the explanation. Seems like semantics to me - I think if you polled lawyers who perform opening statements (perform being the operative word), I think that it would be nearly unanimous that they tell the jury their client is "innocent" more than they use the term "not guilty". I agree with the analysis, that courts don't find people innocent. But my question related to "acquittal", which is a term of art as well, and from my reading I believe it is equivalent to not guilty, and means that the government may not try the defendant again for the same offense.
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