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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
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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.
When a jury is hung more than once in the same case, this puts the prosecution at a critical juncture. Options include:
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.
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.
Following a mistrial by means of a hung jury, the case could continue to take several directions:
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.
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, |
People v. M.J.Assault and child abuse charges |
People v. S.D.DUI dismissed, pled to |
People v. S.C.Theft charge dropped, |
People v. B.S.Breath test challenged, |
People v. A.E.Drug charges dismissed, |
People v. E.B.No jail, favorable plea despite |
People v. J.K.Burglary plea reduced, |
People v. R.G.One DWAI dismissed, another reduced with minimal work release. |
People v. C.R.Traffic offense reduced, |
William T. McAdams, known as Bill, is a highly experienced criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor. Since establishing McAdams Law Office in 2006, he has represented clients in cases including DUI, domestic violence, and theft, handling over 100 jury trials. Bill serves clients predominantly in Weld and Larimer counties, including Greeley, Evans, Windsor, Loveland, and Fort Collins. An active community volunteer and member of multiple legal associations, he is dedicated to protecting his clients’ rights.
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.