The jury’s answers to the questions it receives from the court (judge) in the jury charge determines the outcome of the lawsuit (the jury verdict), and is ultimately reflected in the court’s judgment (the statement of the relief granted in the lawsuit—generally who owes who money).
In Texas, the jury plays a crucial role in the legal process during a trial. The judge provides the jury with a set of questions, known as the jury charge, which guides their deliberations. The jury's responsibility is to deliberate and provide answers to these questions based on the evidence and testimony presented during the trial. The answers given by the jury are then used to determine the outcome of the lawsuit, which is referred to as the jury verdict. This verdict indicates the jury's findings on factual issues, liability, and, in some cases, the amount of damages awarded. The court then takes the jury's verdict and reflects it in the court's judgment, which is the official decision of the court. This judgment outlines the relief granted, such as who owes whom money, and is enforceable by law. The process is governed by the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, which ensure that the jury's verdict is accurately translated into the court's judgment.
