Legal Definitions - hang

In legal contexts, when a jury is said to hang, it means the jurors are unable to reach the necessary consensus to deliver a verdict. This typically occurs when jurors cannot unanimously agree (or agree by the required majority, depending on the jurisdiction and type of case) on whether a defendant is guilty or not guilty, or liable or not liable, despite thorough deliberation. When a jury hangs, it results in a "hung jury," and the court may declare a mistrial.

• Example 1: In a high-profile criminal trial for assault, the jury deliberated for three days. Eight jurors were convinced by the prosecution's evidence and believed the defendant was guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, but four jurors maintained significant doubts, citing inconsistencies in witness testimonies. Despite extensive discussions and attempts to persuade one another, they could not reach a unanimous decision.

  Explanation: This jury hung because the jurors were unable to achieve the unanimous agreement required for a verdict in a criminal case, leading to a deadlock.

• Example 2: A civil lawsuit involved a dispute over a breach of contract, where a small business sued a larger corporation for significant financial losses. After hearing all the evidence, the jury was split. Six jurors believed the corporation had clearly breached the contract and owed substantial damages, while the other six felt the evidence of a breach was insufficient or that the damages claimed were excessive. They could not agree on liability or the amount of compensation.

  Explanation: The jury in this civil case hung because its members could not come to a consensus on the defendant's liability or the appropriate remedy, preventing them from rendering a final judgment.