burden of proof

/ˈbɜrdən əv pruf/

Other forms: burdens of proof

In any legal trial, there exists the burden of proof — the responsibility to provide evidence that a claim is true. In U.S. criminal law, the prosecutor bears the burden of proof to show "beyond a reasonable doubt" that an accused person is guilty.

In U.S. criminal trials, the government (represented by a prosecutor) is the plaintiff (the party bringing a claim of wrongdoing to a court); it bears the full burden of proof. The person accused (the defendant) is presumed innocent until proven guilty, and has no burden of proof. In civil cases, the burden of proof also typically falls on the plaintiff, but the burden of proof is lower: A plaintiff must prove the claim by a "preponderance of the evidence," showing that it's more likely true than not true.

Definitions of burden of proof

1. noun

   the responsibility to show evidence of a disputed claim
   type of:

   duty, obligation, responsibility

   the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force