Hung Juries: Unanimity, Deadlocks, and Retrials
Subtle Differences Matter
What is a Hung Jury?
A hung jury occurs when a jury cannot agree on a unanimous verdict after deliberations in a trial. In other words, there are not enough jurors voting one way or the other for a guilty verdict or a not guilty verdict.
Deadlocked Juries: Another Term for Hung Juries
A jury that is unable to reach a verdict is also known as a deadlocked jury. This term highlights the僵局that can occur during deliberations when jurors have conflicting perspectives or cannot find common ground.
Impacts of Hung Juries
A hung jury can have significant consequences for the trial:
- No Verdict: The jury is unable to make a decision, so there is no judgment from the case.
- Retrial: Often, a hung jury leads to a retrial, where a new jury hears the same case to determine a verdict.
- Partial Verdict: In some cases, the jury may reach partial verdicts on certain charges, while remaining deadlocked on others.
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