petty jury

American  

noun

1. (in a civil or criminal proceeding) a jury, usually of 12 persons, impaneled to determine the facts and render a verdict pursuant to the court's instructions on the law.

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petty jury British  

noun

1. a variant spelling of petit jury

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Other Word Forms

• petty juror
  noun

Etymology

Origin of petty jury

First recorded in 1680–90

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

petty jury

But on 26 January, 1219, King Henry III issued an edict - the trial by petty jury was born in England.

From BBC ● Feb. 8, 2019

The petty jury simply moved that forward - a group of 12 people were now being asked to determine guilt.

From BBC ● Feb. 8, 2019

A petition was signed by many of the grand jury, as well as the petty jury, in her behalf, and strong hopes were entertained of a reprieve.

From The History of Margaret Catchpole A Suffolk Girl by Cobbold, Richard

A petty jury return a verdict of guilty.

From History of England from the Fall of Wolsey to the Death of Elizabeth. Vol. II. by Froude, James Anthony

On that day, a petty jury was returned at Westminster, for the trial of Sir Henry Norris, Sir Francis Weston, Sir William Brereton, and Mark Smeton.

From History of England from the Fall of Wolsey to the Death of Elizabeth. Vol. II. by Froude, James Anthony