Sentencia vs. veredicto vs. fallo
The Spanish words sentencia, veredicto, and fallo all pertain to judgments in a legal context. Although similar, they have distinct uses and implications.
Sentencia
B2In Spanish law, sentencia refers to a final decision given by a judge or court which resolves a controversy and determines the rights and obligations of the parties in a trial.
El juez dictó una sentencia de diez años de prisión.
(The judge handed down a sentence of ten years in prison.)
Veredicto
B2Veredicto is the formal decision or finding made by a jury on the factual issues of a case, presented to it by the court. The jury does not sentence; it only determines the guilt or innocence.
El jurado rindió un veredicto de culpable.
(The jury rendered a verdict of guilty.)
Fallo
C1Fallo in the judicial context is a broader term. It can be used to indicate any decision of a judge or court. It can refer both to definitive decisions (sentencias) and interlocutory decisions (resolutions that do not end the process).
El fallo del juez fue en favor del acusado.
(The judge's ruling was in favor of the defendant.)
El tribunal emitió un fallo interlocutorio que permite avanzar el caso.
(The court issued an interlocutory ruling allowing the case to advance.)
Summary
Although sentencia, veredicto, and fallo fall under legal judgments, they're used in different contexts. Sentencia refers strictly to a final judgment from a judge or court, whereas veredicto is expressly the decision on factual issues by a jury, without including sentencing. On the other hand, fallo has broader usage encompassing any/both definitive and interlocutory decisions passed by judges or courts.