What's the Verdict?

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, have you reached a verdict?

Some of the most dramatic courtroom moments occur after a jury notifies a judge that it has made its decision.

The waiting is over.

The defendant in a criminal case is going to learn his fate. Will he go to prison for the next several years or decades, or will he be freed?

The parties in a civil case are about to discover who prevailed. Will the plaintiff get the monetary award she is hoping for, or will the jury decide the defendant has proven there were no damages?

Word gets around the courthouse that a verdict is coming in, and staff members who can get away from their desks flock to the courtroom for the big moment.

In a criminal case, marshals beef up security in case of a strong reaction to the verdict.

Everyone assembles, and the moment of truth arrives. The accused is asked to stand and face the jury. The jury foreperson is instructed to announce the verdict.

Does the jury find the defendant guilty or not guilty?

Despite the judge's warning that outbursts will not be tolerated, some people simply cannot contain themselves. Last week in New London, a mother started sobbing loudly when she learned a jury had found her 22-year-old son guilty of murder. She tried to control herself and was not admonished.

Another New London jury took the suspense out of its finding this week. Instead of sending a note to the judge saying it had reached a verdict, the jury wrote the actual verdict on the note - assault in the third-degree.

What are your most memorable verdict moments?