The laws defining crimes and procedures in New York are complicated…
Each Friday, we will post a #fridayfacts…
Judges decide questions of law (what law applies, constitutional issues, procedure) and run the courtroom. Juries decide questions of fact (what actually happened).
Example: A driver is cited for going 70 in a 65 but was stopped in a parking lot.
- Jury decides: was the driver actually going 70? (facts)
Judge decides: does the speeding law apply in a parking lot? (law)