traverse jury: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (Technical/Legal)Formal / Technical / Legal
Quick answer
What does “traverse jury” mean?
A jury summoned specifically to try a single, specific case or issue, as opposed to a regular jury panel.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A jury summoned specifically to try a single, specific case or issue, as opposed to a regular jury panel.
A special or petit jury empaneled for the trial of a particular case, often distinguished from a grand jury. In some contexts, it can refer to a jury selected to hear a civil or criminal trial on its merits.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is historical/archaic in both jurisdictions. In contemporary UK law, 'jury' or 'trial jury' is used. In the US, the standard term is 'petit jury' or 'trial jury'. The phrase 'traverse jury' may appear in older case law or historical legal texts in both countries.
Connotations
Historical, formal, specific to legal procedure. May connote a more technical or precise historical legal context.
Frequency
Extremely rare in modern usage. Almost entirely confined to historical legal scholarship or very specific statutory contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “traverse jury” in a Sentence
The court [verb: summoned/empaneled/swore in] a traverse jury.The [adj: entire/petit] traverse jury [verb: deliberated/returned a verdict].A traverse jury [verb: was seated/was discharged].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “traverse jury” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The court will traverse jury the issue next session. (archaic)
American English
- The case was traversed to a jury. (archaic)
adverb
British English
- The case was tried traverse jury. (archaic/ungrammatical in modern use)
American English
- The issue was put traverse jury. (archaic/ungrammatical in modern use)
adjective
British English
- The traverse jury process was meticulously documented.
American English
- Traverse jury duty was a specific civic obligation.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used only in historical or comparative legal studies discussing jury systems.
Everyday
Not used.
Technical
Used in specific legal history texts or in referencing archaic court procedures.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “traverse jury”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “traverse jury”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “traverse jury”
- Using it in contemporary legal writing instead of 'trial jury' or 'petit jury'.
- Confusing it with 'grand jury'.
- Assuming it is a common or current term.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. It is an archaic term. You should use 'trial jury' or 'petit jury' in contemporary legal writing.
In this historical legal sense, 'traverse' comes from Old French 'traverser', meaning 'to cross'. Legally, it referred to formally denying or contesting an allegation, so a 'traverse jury' was one that tried ('crossed' or examined) a disputed issue.
A traverse jury (petit/trial jury) hears evidence at trial and decides guilt/liability or innocence. A grand jury decides whether there is enough evidence to indict someone and bring them to trial.
It's highly unlikely. You might see it in very old statutes, historical novels, or academic papers on the evolution of legal systems, but not in current news, law, or everyday conversation.
A jury summoned specifically to try a single, specific case or issue, as opposed to a regular jury panel.
Traverse jury is usually formal / technical / legal in register.
Traverse jury: in British English it is pronounced /ˈtrævəs ˈdʒʊəri/, and in American English it is pronounced /trəˈvɜːrs ˈdʒʊri/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific to this phrase.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a jury that has to TRAVERSE (cross over) the details of a specific case, not a range of cases.
Conceptual Metaphor
JUSTICE AS A JOURNEY: The jury traverses (travels across) the evidence to reach a verdict.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the modern equivalent of a 'traverse jury'?