Aggressive DUI & Criminal Defense Attorneys Fighting on Your Behalf
click for free consultation

What Happens with a Hung Jury?

click for free consultation
Posted By William McAdams | January 13 2025 | Criminal Defense

When there is a hung jury, the jurors cannot all decide on one result; a mistrial will then take place. In such delicate cases, clarity at McAdams Law Office on what happens when a hung jury occurs may prove fundamental in juvenile high-stakes cases. The result can come in second trial initialization, negotiation of a plea bargain, up to the dismissal of all the charges.

Contact a DUI Lawyer Near You

Mistrials vs. Hung Juries in Greeley, CO: Is There a Difference?

Yes, there is. A mistrial means any trial that is not able to reach an end because of some sort of major error, including juror misconduct or some sort of procedural irregularity. A hung jury occurs only when jurors cannot agree on a verdict leading to a mistrial. Not all mistrials are because of hung juries, but all hung juries are mistrials, according to Cornell Law School

Mistrials

Causes for a mistrial to occur would be procedural errors, juror misconduct, or even natural events. In juvenile cases, mistrials occur when defending rights are compromised or legal standards unmet, prompting retrial or charge review by the prosecution.

Hung Jury

A hung jury, or one that cannot arrive at a verdict after substantial deliberation, necessitates a mistrial by the judge. In the case of juvenile cases, this may be disadvantageous to both defense and prosecution, who then have to decide whether to retry, bargain, or dismiss the case.

Hung Jury Laws in Greeley, CO

The rule of law in criminal cases is generally a unanimous verdict of a jury to convict or acquit. If the jury does not agree on the outcome, then the rule is a mistrial. The prosecution has to decide whether to retry the case before a different jury or work out another disposition.

Juveniles often have special considerations in the legal system. Depending on the severity of the charges and jurisdictional statutes, jury trials may not be a guaranteed right for all juvenile cases.

Circumstances That Lead to a Hung Jury in Greeley, CO

Several factors can lead to a hung jury in Greeley, CO, and understanding these can help in assessing the likelihood of such outcomes in trials:

  • Complex or Contradictory Evidence: The handling and interpretation of complex evidence can significantly confuse jury deliberations.
  • Juror Bias: Personal biases and preconceptions can affect jurors’ decisions, impacting unanimous agreement.
  • Ineffective Deliberation: Poor management of the deliberation process can prevent the jury from reaching a consensus.
  • Strong Divergences of Opinion: Deep-seated differences in viewpoint among jurors can make it difficult to achieve a unanimous verdict.

Notably, evidence issues are the most significant, accounting for 71% of hung juries. This underlines the critical role of evidence in these outcomes. Additionally, while jurors’ sentiments about the law contribute to disagreements, they are less impactful in actual hung jury cases. This suggests that complexities in evidence play a more crucial role than differing legal interpretations in non-unanimous verdicts. These insights are supported by findings from the National Center for State Courts’ report on hung jury deliberations.

Do All Jurors Have to Agree in Greeley, CO?

The answer is yes; almost all criminal cases, be they of juveniles or any other person, require unanimity. Otherwise, the case could result in a hung jury, and with that would come a mistrial. So, the legal standard here attached means consensus and deliberation are highly imperatively part of justice.

What Happens If a Jury Is Hung Twice in Greeley, CO?

When a jury is hung more than once in the same case, this puts the prosecution at a critical juncture. Options include:

  • Continuing with a new jury in pursuit of another retrial.
  • Plea Bargaining: Offering reduced charges or sentences to dispose of the matter.
  • Dismissing the Case: To not prosecute the matter further.

There could be multiple hung juries in juvenile cases, which could influence decision-making in different ways when the welfare interests of the youth are involved.

Who Benefits the Most from a Hung Jury in Greeley, CO?

A hung jury tends to work decisively to the advantage of the defense. All it means is that the prosecution lost an opportunity for a guilty verdict. An outcome such as this creates an opportunity for the defense to negotiate again or do a retry with much preparation, and could perhaps enable the defendant to do better.

What Happens After a Hung Jury in Greeley, CO?

Following a mistrial by means of a hung jury, the case could continue to take several directions:

  • Prosecutorial Review: The prosecution reviews the evidence and decides whether or not to retry the case.
  • Defense Preparation: The defense will further work out its strategy and collect more evidence.
  • Court Rescheduling: The case is taken to trial, and then is rescheduled, adding additional length to the timeline.

A hung jury can be quite tricky to deal with, especially in juvenile defense cases. This is a situation where a family truly needs to experience legal representation to navigate through these challenges.

Need Expert Juvenile Defense?

A hung jury just makes it even more complicated, leaving many questions open. The attorneys at McAdams Law Office will answer your questions and aggressively represent you. Call today to discuss your case and how we can help.

DUI/DWAI Victories Criminal Defense Wins

People v. S.M.

Two DUIs downgraded to DWAI,
avoided jail.

People v. M.J.

Assault and child abuse charges
dismissed, evidence issues.

People v. S.D.

DUI dismissed, pled to
Reckless Driving.

People v. S.C.

Theft charge dropped,
quick jury decision.

People v. B.S.

Breath test challenged,
DUI reduced to DWAI.

People v. A.E.

Drug charges dismissed,
validated medical use.

People v. E.B.

No jail, favorable plea despite
three priors.

People v. J.K.

Burglary plea reduced,
avoided severe penalty.

People v. R.G.

One DWAI dismissed, another reduced with minimal work release.

People v. C.R.

Traffic offense reduced,
license saved.

Request Free Consultation

  • *required fields
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

#

This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Founding Partiner, William McAdams who has more than 25 years of legal experience as a personal injury attorney.