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<title>Reasonable doubt</title>

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<span id="openzim-page-title" class="mw-page-title-main"><span class="mw-page-title-main">Reasonable doubt</span></span>

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</style><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">"Beyond a reasonable doubt" redirects here. For other uses, see <a href="Beyond_a_reasonable_doubt_(disambiguation)" class="mw-disambig" title="Beyond a reasonable doubt (disambiguation)">Beyond a reasonable doubt (disambiguation)</a> and <a href="Reasonable_doubt_(disambiguation)" class="mw-disambig" title="Reasonable doubt (disambiguation)">Reasonable doubt (disambiguation)</a>.</div>

<p><b>Beyond</b> (<b>a</b>) <b>reasonable doubt</b> is a legal <a href="Burden_of_proof_(law)" title="Burden of proof (law)">standard of proof</a> required to validate a criminal conviction in most <a href="Adversarial_system" title="Adversarial system">adversarial legal systems</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> It is a higher standard of proof than the standard of <a href="Balance_of_probabilities" class="mw-redirect" title="Balance of probabilities">balance of probabilities</a> (US English: preponderance of the evidence) commonly used in <a href="Civil_law_(common_law)" title="Civil law (common law)">civil cases</a>, reflecting the principle that in criminal cases the stakes are significantly higher: a person found guilty can be <a href="Imprisonment" title="Imprisonment">deprived of liberty</a> or, in extreme cases, <a href="Capital_punishment" title="Capital punishment">life</a> itself, in addition to the <a href="Collateral_consequences_of_criminal_conviction" title="Collateral consequences of criminal conviction">collateral consequences</a> and social stigma attached to conviction. The prosecution bears the burden of presenting compelling evidence that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt; if the <a href="Trier_of_fact" title="Trier of fact">trier of fact</a> is not convinced to that standard, the accused is entitled to an <a href="Acquittal" title="Acquittal">acquittal</a>. Originating in part from the principle sometimes called <a href="Blackstone's_ratio" title="Blackstone's ratio">Blackstone's ratio</a>—“It is better that ten guilty persons escape than that one innocent suffer”—the standard is now widely accepted in criminal justice systems throughout common law jurisdictions.

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<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="In_practice">In practice</h2></div>

<p>Because the defendant is <a href="Presumption_of_innocence" title="Presumption of innocence">presumed innocent</a>, prosecutors must prove each <a href="Element_(criminal_law)" title="Element (criminal law)">element</a> of the crime charged beyond a reasonable doubt in order to obtain a conviction.<sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> This means the evidence must leave little actual doubt in the mind of the judge or jury that the defendant committed the alleged offense.<sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Unreasonable or purely speculative doubts are excluded, whereas doubts grounded in tangible conflicts within the evidence or its sufficiency warrant an acquittal. In many jurisdictions, the phrase “reasonable doubt” remains purposefully undefined in jury instructions to reduce confusion, although critics argue that the lack of a clear definition may itself cause confusion.<sup id="cite_ref-Pi2020_5-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Pi2020-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>

</p><p>Academic literature has identified several possible interpretations of what “reasonable doubt” entails.<sup id="cite_ref-Pi2020_5-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Pi2020-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> One approach focuses on whether a doubt can be <i>articulable</i>, meaning grounded in a coherent reason or an alternative narrative, rather than in vague distrust or pure speculation. Critics note, however, that this risks shifting the burden of proof to the defendant if they must articulate reasons to doubt guilt. Another approach frames the inquiry around whether a “reasonable person” would entertain the doubt. But critics observe that this easily becomes circular: a doubt is “reasonable” if a “reasonable” person would hold it, offering little additional guidance. A third, so-called “probabilistic” approach suggests adopting a numerical threshold (e.g., 90% or 95% certainty). Some scholars contend that such explicit quantification reflects the actual logic behind proof standards and is consistent with longstanding principles about balancing the costs of wrongful convictions and wrongful acquittals.<sup id="cite_ref-Pi2020_5-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Pi2020-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>

</p><p>Most legal systems avoid placing an explicit numerical figure on “reasonable doubt” and rely instead on jurors’ or judges’ subjective judgment; however, empirical studies show that laypeople vary widely in the probability threshold they associate with “beyond a reasonable doubt.”<sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-7" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Some scholars have proposed that a probabilistic or numerical approach—e.g., equating “reasonable doubt” to a particular probability threshold—can mitigate these inconsistencies.<sup id="cite_ref-Pi2020_5-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Pi2020-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>

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<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Definitions_and_critiques">Definitions and critiques</h2></div>

<p>Critics of the standard, including some jurists and legal scholars, point out that the instruction “beyond a reasonable doubt” can be circular: it does not clarify <i>how</i> certain the jury must be, only that it must be “more certain” than other standards (such as preponderance of the evidence).<sup id="cite_ref-8" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Various courts have tried to elaborate with phrases such as “the kind of doubt that would make a person hesitate to act,” or “moral certainty,” but these have often been deemed unhelpful or potentially confusing.<sup id="cite_ref-Pi2020_5-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Pi2020-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>

</p><p>Research suggests that where the law intends a clear distinction between “preponderance,” “clear and convincing evidence,” and “beyond a reasonable doubt,” jurors given only verbal formulations struggle to separate these levels in practice. Studies of mock jurors have found no consistent difference in outcomes under purely verbal instructions. By contrast, instructions incorporating some numerical guidance produce more consistent results.<sup id="cite_ref-9" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-9"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>9<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-Pi2020_5-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Pi2020-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>

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<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="By_jurisdiction">By jurisdiction</h2></div>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="England_and_Wales">England and Wales</h3></div>

<p>In <i>Woolmington v DPP</i> (1935), the House of Lords famously declared that there is a “golden thread” running through English criminal law, that it is the duty of the prosecution to prove the defendant's guilt.<sup id="cite_ref-10" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-10"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>10<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>

</p><p>In England and Wales, the modern practice often avoids the phrase “beyond reasonable doubt” in favor of telling jurors they must be “sure” of the defendant’s guilt. This rewording follows appeals court rulings expressing concern that the traditional formula might confuse jurors.<sup id="cite_ref-11" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-11"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>11<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>

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<div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Canada">Canada</h3></div>

<p>The Supreme Court of Canada has emphasized that jurors should be told the prosecution bears the entire burden and that the doubt must be based on reason and common sense. In <i>R. v. Lifchus,</i> the Court advised jurors that absolute certainty is not required, only that they be “sure” based on the evidence, and that proof of probable guilt is insufficient.<sup id="cite_ref-Lifchus_12-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Lifchus-12"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>12<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Later cases, such as <i>R. v. Starr,</i> clarified that “proof beyond a reasonable doubt” lies much closer to absolute certainty than to a balance of probabilities.<sup id="cite_ref-Starr_13-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Starr-13"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>13<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>

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<div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="United_States">United States</h3></div>

<p>In the United States, the notion that an accused must be found guilty “beyond a reasonable doubt” is constitutionally mandated under the Due Process Clause.<sup id="cite_ref-14" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-14"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>14<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Although the Supreme Court has discussed this standard in several decisions, it has resisted providing a strict definition; indeed, it has stated that attempts to define the term often “do not usually result in making it any clearer to the minds of the jury.”<sup id="cite_ref-15" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-15"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>15<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Critics argue that juror misunderstanding of what “reasonable doubt” requires contributes to inconsistent outcomes and complicates the fairness of the justice system.<sup id="cite_ref-Pi2020_5-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Pi2020-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>

</p><p>Many proposals to quantify “beyond a reasonable doubt” draw upon the so-called Blackstonian ratio—for example, equating “It is better that ten guilty persons escape than that one innocent suffer” to a 90% threshold of certainty. However, courts vary substantially in how they refer to or adopt Blackstone’s formulation. Some imply a ratio of 1:5 or 1:10, while others have cited values as high as 1:99, resulting in no single uniform benchmark nationwide. Recent scholarship has attempted to catalogue the implicit level of certainty state-by-state.<sup id="cite_ref-Pi2020_5-7" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Pi2020-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>

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<div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Japan">Japan</h3></div>

<p>Japan uses a high standard of persuasion in criminal cases, influenced by the principle of <i>in dubio pro reo</i> (when in doubt, rule for the accused), but judges sometimes diverge in how strictly they apply it.<sup id="cite_ref-Goodman2003_16-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Goodman2003-16"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>16<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>

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<ul><li><a href="Critical_thinking" title="Critical thinking">Critical thinking</a></li>

<li><a href="Metacognition" title="Metacognition">Metacognition</a></li>

<li><a href="Moral_certainty" title="Moral certainty">Moral certainty</a></li>

<li><a href="Probable_cause" title="Probable cause">Probable cause</a></li>

<li><a href="Reasonable_suspicion" title="Reasonable suspicion">Reasonable suspicion</a></li>

<li><a href="Burden_of_proof_(law)" title="Burden of proof (law)">Burden of proof (law)</a></li></ul></div>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2></div>

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<li id="cite_note-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-1">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Grechenig, Nicklisch & Thoeni, Punishment Despite Reasonable Doubt - A Public Goods Experiment with Sanctions under Uncertainty, Journal of Empirical Legal Studies (JELS) 2010, vol. 7 (4), p. 847–867 <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://ssrn.com/abstract=1733792">(ssrn).</a></span>

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</style><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/amdt14-S1-5-5-5/ALDE_00013763/#ALDF_00028992">"Amdt14.S1.5.5.5 Guilt Beyond a Reasonable Doubt"</a>. <i>Constitution Annotated</i>. United States Congress<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">29 December</span> 2024</span>.</cite></span>

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<li id="cite_note-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-3">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.nycourts.gov/judges/cji/1-General/CJI2d.Burden_with_Aff._Defense.pdf">"Presumption of Innocence Burden of Proof (in cases with an affirmative defense) Proof Beyond A Reasonable Doubt"</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span>. <i>New York State Unified Court System</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">29 December</span> 2024</span>.</cite></span>

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<li id="cite_note-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-4">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/beyond_a_reasonable_doubt">"beyond a reasonable doubt"</a>. <i>Legal Information Institute</i>. Cornell University<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">29 December</span> 2024</span>.</cite></span>

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<li id="cite_note-Pi2020-5"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Pi2020_5-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Pi2020_5-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Pi2020_5-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Pi2020_5-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Pi2020_5-4"><sup><i><b>e</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Pi2020_5-5"><sup><i><b>f</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Pi2020_5-6"><sup><i><b>g</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Pi2020_5-7"><sup><i><b>h</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text">Pi, Daniel, Francesco Parisi, and Barbara Luppi, <i>Quantifying Reasonable Doubt,</i> 72 Rutgers U. L. Rev. 455 (2020)</span>

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<li id="cite_note-6"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-6">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Kagehiro, Dorothy K. and W. Clark Staunton, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Legal-vs.-quantified-definitions-of-standards-of-Kagehiro-Stanton/d89fec62b534ac38d985307846710fe98c868f5f">Legal v. Quantified Definitions of the Standard of Proof</a>, 9 L. Hum. Behav. 159 (1985)</span>

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<li id="cite_note-7"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-7">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Simon & Mahan, Quantifying Burdens of Proof: A View from the Bench, the Jury, and the Classroom, 5 L. & Soc’y Rev. 319 (1971)</span>

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<li id="cite_note-8"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-8">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">In re Winship, 397 U.S. 358 (1970)</span>

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<li id="cite_note-9"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-9">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Kagehiro, Dorothy K., Defining the Standard of Proof in Jury Instructions, 1 Psychol. Sci. 194 (1990)</span>

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<li id="cite_note-10"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-10">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><i><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKHL/1935/1.html">Woolmington v DPP</a> [1935] UKHL 1 (23 May 1935)</i></span>

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<li id="cite_note-11"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-11">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Crim/2009/2563.html">R v Majid</a> [2009] EWCA Crim 2563</span>

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<li id="cite_note-Lifchus-12"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Lifchus_12-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite><i><a href="R._v._Lifchus" class="mw-redirect" title="R. v. Lifchus">R. v. Lifchus</a></i></cite>, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.canlii.org/en/ca/scc/doc/1997/1997canlii319/1997canlii319.html">[1997</a> 3 SCR 320] (SCC 1997).</span>

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<li id="cite_note-Starr-13"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Starr_13-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite><i><a href="R._v._Starr" class="mw-redirect" title="R. v. Starr">R. v. Starr</a></i></cite>, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://canlii.ca/en/ca/scc/doc/2000/2000scc40/2000scc40.html">[2000</a> 2 SCR 144], 242 (SCC 2000).</span>

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<li id="cite_note-14"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-14">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">In re Winship, 397 U.S. 358, 364 (1970)</span>

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<li id="cite_note-15"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-15">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Holland v. United States, 348 U.S. 121, 140 (1954)</span>

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<li id="cite_note-Goodman2003-16"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Goodman2003_16-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Goodman, Carl F., <i>Rule of Law in Japan: A Comparative Analysis</i> (Kluwer Law International, 2003), pp. 253–54.</span>

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</style><div id="Criminal_procedure_(investigation)455" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="Criminal_procedure" title="Criminal procedure">Criminal procedure</a> (investigation)</div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="Criminal_investigation" title="Criminal investigation">Criminal investigation</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">

<ul><li><i><a href="Arguido" title="Arguido">Arguido</a></i></li>

<li><a href="Arrest" title="Arrest">Arrest</a></li>

<li><a href="Arrest_warrant" title="Arrest warrant">Arrest warrant</a></li>

<li><a href="Consent_search" title="Consent search">Consent search</a></li>

<li><a href="Remand_(detention)" class="mw-redirect" title="Remand (detention)">Detention</a></li>

<li><a href="Exigent_circumstance" title="Exigent circumstance">Exigent circumstance</a></li>

<li><a href="Knock-and-announce" title="Knock-and-announce">Knock-and-announce</a></li>

<li><a href="Miranda_warning" title="Miranda warning">Miranda warning</a></li>

<li><a href="Pretextual_stop" class="mw-redirect" title="Pretextual stop">Pretextual stop</a></li>

<li><a href="Probable_cause" title="Probable cause">Probable cause</a></li>

<li><a href="Reasonable_suspicion" title="Reasonable suspicion">Reasonable suspicion</a></li>

<li><a href="Right_to_silence" title="Right to silence">Right to silence</a></li>

<li><a href="Search_and_seizure" title="Search and seizure">Search and seizure</a></li>

<li><a href="Search_of_persons" title="Search of persons">Search of persons</a></li>

<li><a href="Search_warrant" title="Search warrant">Search warrant</a></li>

<li><a href="Suspect" title="Suspect">Suspect</a></li>

<li><a href="Terry_stop" title="Terry stop">Terry stop</a></li></ul>

</div></td><td class="noviewer navbox-image" rowspan="4" style="width:1px;padding:0 0 0 2px"><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="Criminal_procedure" title="Criminal procedure">Criminal prosecution</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">

<ul><li><a href="Adversarial_system" title="Adversarial system">Adversarial system</a></li>

<li><a href="Bill_of_attainder" title="Bill of attainder">Bill of attainder</a></li>

<li><a href="Criminal_jurisdiction" title="Criminal jurisdiction">Criminal jurisdiction</a></li>

<li><a href="Diversion_program" title="Diversion program">Diversion program</a></li>

<li><a href="Deferred_prosecution" title="Deferred prosecution">Deferred prosecution agreement</a></li>

<li><a href="Ex_post_facto_law" title="Ex post facto law"><i>Ex post facto</i> law</a></li>

<li><a href="Extradition" title="Extradition">Extradition</a></li>

<li><a href="Grand_jury" title="Grand jury">Grand jury</a></li>

<li><i><a href="Habeas_corpus" title="Habeas corpus">Habeas corpus</a></i></li>

<li><a href="Indictment" title="Indictment">Indictment</a></li>

<li><a href="Inquisitorial_system" title="Inquisitorial system">Inquisitorial system</a></li>

<li><i><a href="Nolle_prosequi" title="Nolle prosequi">Nolle prosequi</a></i></li>

<li><a href="Precognition_(Scots_law)" title="Precognition (Scots law)">Precognition</a></li>

<li><a href="Preliminary_hearing" title="Preliminary hearing">Preliminary hearing</a></li>

<li><a href="Statute_of_limitations" title="Statute of limitations">Statute of limitations</a></li></ul>

</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Charges and pleas</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">

<ul><li><a href="Alford_plea" title="Alford plea">Alford plea</a></li>

<li><a href="Arraignment" title="Arraignment">Arraignment</a></li>

<li><a href="Indictment" title="Indictment">Indictment</a></li>

<li><a href="Information_(formal_criminal_charge)" title="Information (formal criminal charge)">Information</a></li>

<li><i><a href="Nolo_contendere" title="Nolo contendere">Nolo contendere</a></i></li>

<li><a href="Peremptory_plea" title="Peremptory plea">Peremptory plea</a></li>

<li><a href="Plea_bargain" title="Plea bargain">Plea bargain</a></li>

<li><a href="Presentence_investigation_report" title="Presentence investigation report">Presentence investigation</a></li>

<li><a href="Suspended_sentence" title="Suspended sentence">Suspended sentence</a></li></ul>

</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Related areas</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">

<ul><li><a href="Criminal_defenses" title="Criminal defenses">Criminal defenses</a></li>

<li><a href="Criminal_law" title="Criminal law">Criminal law</a></li>

<li><a href="Evidence_(law)" title="Evidence (law)">Evidence</a></li>

<li><a href="Evidence_law_in_the_United_States" class="mw-redirect" title="Evidence law in the United States">Evidence law in the United States</a></li>

<li><a href="Legal_abuse" class="mw-redirect" title="Legal abuse">Legal abuse</a></li></ul>

</div></td></tr><tr><td class="navbox-abovebelow" colspan="3" style="font-weight: bold;"><div>

<ul><li><a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Criminal_procedure" class="extiw external" title="wiktionary:Criminal procedure">Wiktionary</a></li>

<li><a href="https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Special:Search/Criminal_procedure" class="extiw external" title="wikibooks:Special:Search/Criminal procedure">Wikibooks</a></li>

<li><a href="https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Crime" class="extiw external" title="wikiquote:Crime">Wikiquote</a></li>

<li><a href="https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Category:Crime" class="extiw external" title="wikisource:Category:Crime">WikiSource</a></li>

<li><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Criminal_law" class="extiw external" title="commons:Category:Criminal law">Wikimedia Commons</a></li>

<li><a href="https://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Category:Crime_and_law" class="extiw external" title="wikinews:Category:Crime and law">Wikinews</a></li>

<li><a href="https://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Crime" class="extiw external" title="wikiversity:Crime">Wikiversity</a></li></ul>

</div></td></tr></tbody></table></div>

<div class="navbox-styles"></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox" aria-labelledby="United_States_criminal_due_process_case_law252" style="padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible expanded navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2"><div id="United_States_criminal_due_process_case_law252" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em">United States <a href="United_States_constitutional_criminal_procedure" title="United States constitutional criminal procedure">criminal</a> <a href="Due_Process_Clause" title="Due Process Clause">due process</a> case law</div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible uncollapsed navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2"><div id="Reasonable_doubt252" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"></div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">

<ul><li><i><a href="Leland_v._Oregon" title="Leland v. Oregon">Leland v. Oregon</a></i> (1952)</li>

<li><i>Holland v. United States</i> (1954)</li>

<li><i><a href="Leary_v._United_States" title="Leary v. United States">Leary v. United States</a></i> (1969)</li>

<li><i><a href="In_re_Winship" title="In re Winship">In re Winship</a></i> (1970)</li>

<li><i>Cool v. United States</i> (1972)</li>

<li><i><a href="Mullaney_v._Wilbur" title="Mullaney v. Wilbur">Mullaney v. Wilbur</a></i> (1975)</li>

<li><i><a href="Patterson_v._New_York" title="Patterson v. New York">Patterson v. New York</a></i> (1977)</li>

<li><i>Taylor v. Kentucky</i> (1978)</li>

<li><i>County Court of Ulster Cty. v. Allen</i> (1979)</li>

<li><i><a href="Sandstrom_v._Montana" title="Sandstrom v. Montana">Sandstrom v. Montana</a></i> (1979)</li>

<li><i>Jackson v. Virginia</i> (1979)</li>

<li><i>Murray v. Carrier</i> (1986)</li>

<li><i>Cage v. Louisiana</i> (1990)</li>

<li><i>Sullivan v. Louisiana</i> (1993)</li>

<li><i>Victor v. Nebraska</i> (1994)</li>

<li><i><a href="Schlup_v._Delo" title="Schlup v. Delo">Schlup v. Delo</a></i> (1995)</li></ul>

</div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible mw-collapsed navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2"><div id="Brady_disclosure252" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="Brady_disclosure" title="Brady disclosure"><i>Brady</i> disclosure</a></div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">

<ul><li><i><a href="Brady_v._Maryland" title="Brady v. Maryland">Brady v. Maryland</a></i> (1963)</li>

<li><i><a href="Giglio_v._United_States" title="Giglio v. United States">Giglio v. United States</a></i> (1972)</li>

<li><i>Moore v. Illinois</i> (1972)</li>

<li><i><a href="United_States_v._Agurs" title="United States v. Agurs">United States v. Agurs</a></i> (1976)</li>

<li><i>California v. Trombetta</i> (1984)</li>

<li><i><a href="United_States_v._Bagley" title="United States v. Bagley">United States v. Bagley</a></i> (1985)</li>

<li><i><a href="Arizona_v._Youngblood" title="Arizona v. Youngblood">Arizona v. Youngblood</a></i> (1988)</li>

<li><i><a href="Kyles_v._Whitley" title="Kyles v. Whitley">Kyles v. Whitley</a></i> (1995)</li>

<li><i>Wood v. Bartholomew</i> (1995)</li>

<li><i>Strickler v. Greene</i> (1999)</li>

<li><i><a href="United_States_v._Ruiz" title="United States v. Ruiz">United States v. Ruiz</a></i> (2002)</li>

<li><i><a href="Illinois_v._Fisher" class="mw-redirect" title="Illinois v. Fisher">Illinois v. Fisher</a></i> (2004)</li>

<li><i>Banks v. Dretke</i> (2004)</li>

<li><i><a href="Youngblood_v._West_Virginia" class="mw-redirect" title="Youngblood v. West Virginia">Youngblood v. West Virginia</a></i> (2006)</li>

<li><i><a href="Smith_v._Cain" title="Smith v. Cain">Smith v. Cain</a></i> (2012)</li></ul>

</div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible mw-collapsed navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2"><div id="Mental_competence252" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="Adjudicative_competence" title="Adjudicative competence">Mental competence</a></div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">

<ul><li><i>Bishop v. United States</i> (1956)</li>

<li><i><a href="Dusky_v._United_States" title="Dusky v. United States">Dusky v. United States</a></i> (1960)</li>

<li><i>Pate v. Robinson</i> (1966)</li>

<li><i><a href="Drope_v._Missouri" title="Drope v. Missouri">Drope v. Missouri</a></i> (1975)</li>

<li><i><a href="Riggins_v._Nevada" title="Riggins v. Nevada">Riggins v. Nevada</a></i> (1992)</li>

<li><i>Medina v. California</i> (1992)</li>

<li><i><a href="Godinez_v._Moran" title="Godinez v. Moran">Godinez v. Moran</a></i> (1993)</li>

<li><i><a href="Cooper_v._Oklahoma" title="Cooper v. Oklahoma">Cooper v. Oklahoma</a></i> (1996)</li>

<li><i><a href="Sell_v._United_States" title="Sell v. United States">Sell v. United States</a></i> (2003)</li>

<li><i><a href="Indiana_v._Edwards" title="Indiana v. Edwards">Indiana v. Edwards</a></i> (2008)</li></ul>

</div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible mw-collapsed navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2"><div id="Prosecutorial_misconduct252" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="Prosecutorial_misconduct" title="Prosecutorial misconduct">Prosecutorial misconduct</a></div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">

<ul><li><i>Mooney v. Holohan</i> (1935)</li>

<li><i>Hysler v. Florida</i> (1942)</li>

<li><i>Pyle v. Kansas</i> (1942)</li>

<li><i>New York ex rel. Whitman v. Wilson</i> (1943)</li>

<li><i>White v. Ragen</i> (1945)</li>

<li><i>Mesarosh v. United States</i> (1956)</li>

<li><i><a href="Alcorta_v._Texas" title="Alcorta v. Texas">Alcorta v. Texas</a></i> (1957)</li>

<li><i><a href="Napue_v._Illinois" title="Napue v. Illinois">Napue v. Illinois</a></i> (1959)</li>

<li><i><a href="McDonough_v._Smith" title="McDonough v. Smith">McDonough v. Smith</a></i> (2019)</li></ul>

</div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div><div><div class="zim-footer">

This article is issued from <a class="external text" title="Last edited on 2025-06-12" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/?title=Reasonable_doubt&oldid=1295249654">Wikipedia</a>. The text is available under <a class="external text" href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en">Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0</a> unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.

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