Burden of Proof
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Plain-English Meaning
The obligation on one party in a legal proceeding to prove a claim or fact. The party with the burden of proof must present enough evidence to meet the required legal standard — otherwise they lose on that issue. In criminal cases, the burden is always on the prosecution.
Legal Context
Different legal proceedings use different standards of proof. In New York criminal cases, the prosecution bears the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt — the defendant is presumed innocent and never has to prove anything. In civil cases, the standard is typically a preponderance of the evidence (more likely than not). For certain affirmative defenses (like self-defense), the defendant may bear the burden of production — meaning they must present some evidence to raise the defense, though the prosecution still must disprove it beyond a reasonable doubt.
Real-Life Example
In a theft case, the prosecutor must present enough evidence to convince the jury — beyond a reasonable doubt — that the defendant committed the crime. If the prosecutor does not meet that burden, the defendant must be acquitted, even if the defendant presents no evidence at all in their defense.
Related Terms
Source
General evidentiary standard. Original B-Legal plain-language explanation.
Definitions are simplified for education. Legal meanings vary by jurisdiction, context, and case facts. This definition is original B-Legal content and is not affiliated with or derived from any proprietary legal dictionary.