Tennessee Code 40-18-119 – Presumption that original trial judge has served as thirteenth juror and approved unanimous verdict
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Terms Used In Tennessee Code 40-18-119
- Appellate: About appeals; an appellate court has the power to review the judgement of another lower court or tribunal.
- Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
- Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
- Juror: A person who is on the jury.
- Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
- Verdict: The decision of a petit jury or a judge.
When any successor judge to the original trial judge or any appellate court is determining if a new trial should be granted to a criminal defendant on the grounds that the verdict of guilty is against the weight of the evidence, immediately upon the original trial judge dismissing a jury following the return of a unanimous verdict, there is created a presumption that the original trial judge has served as the thirteenth juror and approved the jury’s verdict with respect to each count on which a unanimous verdict was returned.