Yes, there is a right to a verdict by a jury of one's peers in most cases. Trials at equity may be an exception depending upon the organization of the courts in a particular state. Either litigant has the right to claim the case to a jury docket and jury trial list.
However, Jessica is right... a judge may override the verdict of a jury upon motion of the losing litigant. It is called a "Motion for a Judgment Non Obstante Verdicto" ( a judgment notwithstanding the verdict).
These motions are almost never granted. It is rare that a judge will take the matter from the jury unless the jury has clearly screwed up in its interpretation of the evidence. The judge sits as the trier of law, and the jury sits as the trier of fact. The judge may rule on the admissability of the evidence, but will not infringe on the weight to be given to the evidence by the jury unless the jury is clearly wrong.
The losing party makes the motion anyway in all cases in order to preserve his rights to a full review by the Appellate Court.
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