Legal Definitions - chance verdict

A chance verdict refers to a jury's decision that is reached through a random or arbitrary method, rather than through careful consideration of the evidence, facts, and legal instructions presented during a trial. Instead of engaging in thoughtful deliberation and attempting to persuade each other based on the merits of the case, jurors might resort to a game of chance to determine the outcome. Such verdicts are considered illegal and invalid in the United States because they undermine the fundamental principles of justice, fairness, and due process, which require decisions to be based on reason and evidence.

• Imagine a jury in a criminal case is deeply divided on whether the defendant is guilty or not guilty. After hours of intense debate, they are at an impasse. Frustrated, one juror suggests that they write "guilty" on one piece of paper and "not guilty" on another, place both slips into a hat, and have the foreperson draw one to be their official verdict.

  This scenario illustrates a chance verdict because the jury's final decision would be determined by a random draw, not by a reasoned assessment of the evidence or legal arguments. The outcome relies entirely on luck, bypassing the required process of deliberation.

• Consider a civil lawsuit where a jury must decide if a company is liable for damages caused by a faulty product. The jurors are split, with some believing the company was negligent and others believing it was not. Unable to reach a consensus through discussion, they agree to roll a standard six-sided die: if an even number appears, they will find the company liable; if an odd number appears, they will find the company not liable.

  This is a clear example of a chance verdict because the critical finding of liability would be based on the arbitrary outcome of a dice roll. The decision would not reflect the jurors' collective judgment on the evidence presented, but rather a random event.

• In a personal injury case, a jury has already decided that the defendant is responsible for the plaintiff's injuries and now needs to determine the specific amount of monetary damages to award. They are struggling to agree on a figure. To break the deadlock, they decide that each juror will secretly write down their preferred damage amount. They will then average these numbers, and finally, flip a coin: if it's heads, they will add an additional $5,000 to the average; if it's tails, they will subtract $5,000.

  This demonstrates a chance verdict because, even though part of the calculation involves averaging, the final, binding amount of damages is altered by a random coin flip. The ultimate figure is not solely the product of reasoned discussion and calculation based on evidence, but is influenced by an element of pure chance.