How does reasonable doubt affect a court case in California?

If someone is brought to trial in California, they deserve to be treated fairly. This is why both the presumption of innocence and the issue of reasonable doubt are referenced in the California penal code. They are there to ensure that a guilty verdict should only be given if the defendant can be found guilty beyond reasonable doubt. Until this has happened, the defendant is presumed innocent.

The aim of this article is to look at the presumption of innocence, and the issue of reasonable doubt. We are going to explain what they mean, and how reasonable doubt can affect the outcome of a California criminal trial.

What is the presumption of innocence?

This is one of the most important features of the US legal system, and many others. At the start of a trial, the accused is always assumed to be innocent. This acts as the basis for everything that happens from then. During the trial, the prosecution presents evidence, and calls witnesses, in an attempt to prove that the defendant is guilty of the crime they are accused of. The onus is on the prosecution, to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

What is reasonable doubt?

The concept of reasonable doubt does not mean that absolutely no doubt can exist; there is always doubt where human beings are concerned. What this concept refers to is the judgement of a reasonable person. It refers to the fact that the prosecution need to prove their case to the point where any reasonable person would be able to find the defendant guilty.

If the standard of evidence is not high enough for this to be the case then the finding should be not guilty. It's important to note that the concept of reasonable doubt does not just apply to the whole case overall; it also applies to each individual element of the case.

You can see why the prosecution needs to be careful when collecting, and presenting, its evidence. If you have been accused of a crime in California, you should consult with a Pasadena Criminal Attorney. They can put their experience and expertise to use, to give you the best chance of getting the best possible result for you. They should argue to the jury, any points where they consider the evidence to be weak, and where they feel guilt has not been proven beyond reasonable doubt.

Hopefully, you can now see that reasonable doubt has a big impact on court cases in California, and throughout the US. The accused is always presumed innocent at the start of the trial. It's then up to the prosecution to prove that they are in fact guilty of the crime in question. In order to do this they need to present sufficient good quality evidence for the jury to decide that they can find the accused guilty beyond reasonable doubt. Only when this happens, can a verdict of guilty be returned.