Manatt’s Jack Quinn, a partner in the firm’s government and regulatory practice, was interviewed by CNN to discuss the Paul Manafort trial.
With the unfolding of Manafort’s trial for tax and bank fraud, CNN reported that jurors asked the judge to redefine “reasonable doubt” for them as they deliberated. This question appeared significant to some observers, but seemed unimportant to others.
“The judge has to carefully explain that ‘beyond reasonable doubt’ means more than just probable, more than even highly probable; that if they have a doubt, it has to be based on reason and it has to be based on a reasonable consideration, not, for example, sympathy for the defendant or concern about his or her family,” said Quinn.