Legal Definitions - deadlocked jury

A deadlocked jury, also known as a hung jury, is a situation where the members of a jury are unable to reach a verdict by the required voting margin, resulting in a mistrial. This happens when the jurors cannot agree on a decision, even after honest attempts to do so.

For example, if a jury is tasked with deciding whether a defendant is guilty or not guilty, and after several rounds of deliberation, they are still split evenly, the jury is considered deadlocked. In this case, the judge may send the jury back for further deliberation, hoping that they will eventually reach a verdict. However, if the jury is still unable to reach a decision, the judge will declare a mistrial.

Deadlocked juries can be frustrating for everyone involved, as they often result in a retrial of the case. However, they are an important part of the legal system, as they ensure that a defendant is not convicted or acquitted without a fair and unanimous decision from the jury.