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grave doubt

Defined in 1 dictionary — Case Law

Definitions from Case Law

From 513 U.S. 432 - O'NEAL v. McAninch · 1995Most cited · 2,584 citing opinions

that, in the judge's mind, the matter is so evenly balanced that he feels himself in virtual equipoise as to the harmlessness of the error.) We conclude that the uncertain judge should treat the error, not as if it were harmless, but as if it affected the verdict ( i.e., as if it had a "substantial and injurious effect or influence in determining the jury's verdict").