Quote:
Originally Posted by collie1228
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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Hi Collie,
I used to cover criminal court for a newspaper. I don't know whether attorneys ever say it, but I have never heard a defense attorney describe his client as "innocent" rather than "not guilty". On the other hand, yes a "not guilty" verdict is an acquittal. There is no such thing in U. S. courts as as a verdict of "innocent".