What to Expect at a Criminal Trial in Minnesota
A trial is what most people picture when they think of a criminal case, even though most cases are resolved before reaching one. If your case is headed to trial, knowing how it works can make a stressful process feel more manageable. This guide walks through your right to a trial in Minnesota, who has to prove what, the order of events, and the outcomes that are possible.
Your Right to a Trial
In Minnesota, you have the right to a jury trial for any offense that can lead to time behind bars. Felony cases are heard by a jury of twelve, and misdemeanor cases by a jury of six. In every criminal case, the jury’s verdict must be unanimous, which means all of the jurors have to agree. You can also give up the jury and have a judge decide the case instead, which is called a bench trial, though that choice is made carefully and with a lawyer’s advice.
The Burden Is on the State
One of the most important things to understand is that you do not have to prove your innocence. You are presumed innocent, and the state carries the burden of proving its case beyond a reasonable doubt, the highest standard in the law. Our guide explaining what beyond a reasonable doubt means breaks that down. You have the right to remain silent, and you do not have to testify or present any evidence at all if you choose not to. The defense can also challenge the state’s witnesses and offer its own.
How a Trial Unfolds
A criminal trial moves through a familiar set of stages. It begins with jury selection, where both sides question potential jurors to seat a fair panel. After that come opening statements from each side. The prosecution presents its case first, calling witnesses and offering evidence, and the defense can cross-examine. The defense may then present its own case, though it is not required to. Both sides give closing arguments, the judge instructs the jury on the law, and the jury deliberates in private before returning a verdict. Our guide on the role of evidence in a criminal case explains how evidence is handled along the way.
Possible Outcomes
A trial can end in a few ways. If the jury finds you not guilty, the case is over and cannot be brought again. If it finds you guilty, the case moves to sentencing, which our guide on understanding criminal sentencing covers. Sometimes a jury cannot reach a unanimous decision, which results in a hung jury, and the state must decide whether to try the case again. Because trial is not the only path, many cases are resolved earlier, as our guide on plea bargains and alternative sentencing explains.
Serious charges are the ones most likely to reach a jury, including felony and assault cases. Wherever your case is, including Bloomington or Brooklyn Park, a lawyer can prepare your defense and stand with you in the courtroom.
Talk to a Minnesota Criminal Defense Attorney
If your case might go to trial, the preparation that happens beforehand often matters as much as the trial itself. Derek Archambault is a former Minnesota prosecutor who now defends people facing charges, and he knows how the state presents a case to a jury and how to challenge it. The firm offers free consultations and flat-fee pricing, so you know the cost before any work begins. You can reach out to schedule a consultation to talk through your case.
