According to the text, a criminal case pits an individual against A. a jury. B. the government. C. society at large. D. a judge.

A. a jury

Explanation:

In the United States, criminal offenses that are punishable by jail time of over 6 months can be decided by a jury trial, in which an anonymous group of people (the jury) determine whether the defendant is guilty or innocent.

If the jury's verdict is an acquittal, all criminal charges against the accused are dropped. If the jury's verdict is that the person is guilty, the judge proceeds to establish the sentence.