Austin Criminal Lawyer

Frequently Asked Questions

What does it mean to prove guilt "beyond a reasonable doubt"?

To prove guilt “beyond a reasonable doubt” means that a prosecutor must convince the judge or jury hearing the case that there is no way, within reason, that someone else could have done it. This is a very high standard that has to be met and is rather difficult to meet. There is a very high burden of proof that must be met in criminal cases. Jurors and judges are supposed to resolve any of their doubts concerning the evidence in favor of the defendant. Because of this standard, the best defense is that there is reasonable doubt, i.e. the prosecutor has not done a thorough enough job of proving that the defendant is guilty.