fact finder
An impartial person or persons who are to determine the facts or actualities of a case or controversy (who determines what really happened).
Examples:
In a jury trial: the jury is the body that decides what really happened in the case at hand.
In a bench trial: the judge decides what really happened.
In an official investigation: an agent or committee may be appointed to determine the facts.
Definition from Nolo’s Plain-English Law Dictionary
In a trial of a lawsuit or criminal prosecution, the jury or judge (if there is no jury) who decides if facts have been proven. Occasionally a judge may appoint a "special master" to investigate and report on the existence of certain facts.
Definition provided by Nolo’s Plain-English Law Dictionary.
August 19, 2010, 5:16 pm
