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Simple English definitions for legal terms
peer
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A quick definition of peer:
A peer is someone who is equal to you, like a friend who is the same age or has the same interests. It can also mean someone who does the same job as you, like a scientist who checks your work to make sure it's correct. In a legal setting, a peer is someone who is a citizen and can serve on a jury to help decide if someone is guilty or not. They don't have to be exactly like the person on trial, but they should be fair and unbiased.
A more thorough explanation:
A peer is someone who is equal to another person in some way. This could mean they are the same age, have a similar social status, or work in the same profession. For example, in some fields, research or articles must be peer-reviewed, which means they are reviewed by other experts in the same field to make sure they are accurate.
In a legal context, a person's peers are other adult citizens. For example, a jury of one's peers is a group of citizens who are randomly selected to hear a court case. These individuals may not share the same traits as the defendant, such as age, race, or gender, but they are considered peers because they are all adult citizens.
Example: A group of high school students who are all the same age and attend the same school are peers. They are equal to each other in terms of their age and social status.
Example: A group of doctors who work in the same field are peers. They are equal to each other in terms of their profession and expertise.
Example: A jury of adult citizens who are randomly selected to hear a court case are peers. They are equal to each other in terms of their status as adult citizens.
These examples illustrate how peers are people who are equal to each other in some way, whether it be age, profession, or citizenship.