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Simple English definitions for legal terms
shotgun charge
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A quick definition of shotgun charge:
A shotgun charge is when a judge tells a jury that they need to keep talking and trying to make a decision until they come up with a verdict. This is because if they can't agree, the case might have to start all over again, and the person who might have done something wrong could go free. So, the judge gives them a special instruction to keep trying to figure it out.
A more thorough explanation:
A shotgun charge is a set of instructions given by a judge to a hung jury to encourage them to continue deliberating until they reach a verdict. This is done to avoid a mistrial, which could allow a guilty defendant to go free.
Imagine a jury is unable to reach a verdict in a murder trial. The judge may give them a shotgun charge, telling them to continue deliberating and consider all the evidence presented in the trial.
Another example could be a jury in a civil case that is deadlocked on a decision. The judge may give them a shotgun charge, urging them to continue deliberating and try to reach a verdict.
These examples illustrate how a shotgun charge is used to encourage a hung jury to keep deliberating and try to reach a verdict, rather than declaring a mistrial.