fair trial
Unbiased legal hearing
A fair trial is a legal proceeding conducted according to established rules of justice—impartial judges, competent legal representation, the right to present evidence and confront accusers.
The concept is foundational to democratic legal systems: The defendant has a right to a fair trial.
What constitutes fairness varies across jurisdictions but centers on preventing arbitrary or biased outcomes.
Judicial proceedings chamber
- judgeOne who decides
- juryLegal decision-making body
- verdictOfficial court decision
- testimonySworn statement as evidence
evidence · witness · prosecution · defense · cross-examination · objection · plea · arraignment
Guaranteed judicial fairness
- presumption of innocenceDefault legal blamelessness
- right to counselDefendant's guaranteed legal representation
- defendantParty facing charges
- attorneyLicensed legal representative
legal representation · habeas corpus · self-incrimination · Miranda rights · bail · appeal · legal aid · interpreter
Duty to prove allegations
- reasonable doubtLegal uncertainty requiring acquittal
- rules of evidenceLegal admissibility framework
- admissibilityQuality of being permitted
- hearsayUnverified secondhand information
chain of custody · expert witness · disclosure · discovery · precedent · jurisprudence · equal protection · judicial review
Free from prejudice
- neutralNot favoring any side
- objectivePurpose or goal
- evenhandedFair to all parties
- disinterestedFree from personal stakes
unprejudiced · impartial jury · jury selection · voir dire · change of venue · recusal · conflict of interest · blind justice
courtroom
Judicial proceedings chamber
testimony · evidence · witness · prosecution · defense · cross-examination · objection · plea · arraignment · indictment
due process
Guaranteed judicial fairness
- presumption of innocenceDefault legal blamelessness
- right to counselDefendant's guaranteed legal representation
- defendantParty facing charges
attorney · legal representation · habeas corpus · self-incrimination · Miranda rights · bail · appeal · legal aid · interpreter
burden of proof
Duty to prove allegations
- reasonable doubtLegal uncertainty requiring acquittal
- rules of evidenceLegal admissibility framework
- admissibilityQuality of being permitted
hearsay · chain of custody · expert witness · disclosure · discovery · precedent · jurisprudence · equal protection · judicial review · standard of proof
unbiased
Free from prejudice
- neutralNot favoring any side
- objectivePurpose or goal
- evenhandedFair to all parties
disinterested · unprejudiced · impartial jury · jury selection · voir dire · change of venue · recusal · conflict of interest · blind justice · dispassionate
- Canadian rightsright to vote, equality rights, legal rights, civil liberties, language rights
- Charter Rightsfundamental freedoms, legal rights, equality rights, democratic rights, language rights
- judicial reformjudicial reform, court reform, justice reform, legal reform, judicial independence
- Legal Fairnessdue process, equal treatment, blind justice, legal equality, equal protection
- legal rightslegal rights, constitutional rights, fundamental rights, Miranda rights, Bill of Rights
- liberal democracyliberal democracy, civil liberties, individual rights, rule of law, separation of powers
fair trialkangaroo court
Illegitimate proceeding ignoring procedure
show trial · mock trial · mistrial · star chamber · unfair trial
fair trialsummary execution
Killing without formal trial
lynch mob · lynching · mob justice · vigilante justice · death squad
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