presumption of innocence

American  

noun

Law.

1. the rebuttable presumption of the innocence of the defendant in a criminal action in Anglo-Saxon jurisprudence, placing upon the prosecution the burden of proof of the defendant's guilt.

---

Example Sentences

"It should be noted that the presumption of innocence applies in favour of the accused," the prosecutor's office added.

From BBC

There is no presumption of innocence.

From Barron's

Cannon asserted that doing so here would violate “the presumption of innocence held sacrosanct in our constitutional order,” but that is nonsense.

From Slate

“The former defendants in this case, like any other defendant in this situation, still enjoy the presumption of innocence held sacrosanct in our constitutional order,” the judge writes.

From The Wall Street Journal

Sébastien Lecornu said that "without undermining the presumption of innocence" LFI had to "clean up" its statements, ideas and its ranks fast.

From BBC