Final answer:
In a civil case with a jury, the jury determines the facts, while the judge is responsible for the application of the law. The jury evaluates evidence and testimony, while the judge ensures legal standards are maintained and decides on legal questions.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a jury is present in a civil case, the jury decides the facts and the judge determines the law. This is in accordance with the Seventh Amendment, which guarantees a right to a jury trial in federal civil cases. The distinction is that jurors evaluate evidence and testimony to determine what actually happened in the dispute (facts), while the judge applies and interprets the law based on the jury's findings. In civil cases, a judge may also set the amount of damages to be awarded, based on the jury's recommendations, if any are made.
Judges are essential in ensuring the trial adheres to legal standards and in making decisions on legal questions that may arise during the proceedings. In essence, the jurors' role is limited to fact-finding, while the judges' expertise is employed in interpreting and applying the law. It's critical to understand that this system aims to provide a balance between the community's sense of justice and the rigid structures of the law.