HUNG JURY Meaning and
Definition
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A hung jury refers to a situation in a criminal trial where the jury members are unable to reach a unanimous verdict, causing a mistrial. This occurs when the jurors cannot come to a decision that is unanimous, either in favor of convicting or acquitting the defendant. The term "hung" implies that the jury is deadlocked, unable to move forward.
When deliberating, jurors must weigh the evidence presented by both the prosecution and defense, considering the facts and arguments presented throughout the trial. However, if the jury cannot reach a unanimous decision after significant deliberations and discussions, a hung jury is declared. It is important to note that the necessary level of unanimity may vary based on the jurisdiction and type of case being tried.
In the event of a hung jury, the judge declares a mistrial, and depending on legal procedural rules, the case may be dismissed, or in some cases, the prosecution may choose to retry it with a new jury. A hung jury does not imply the defendant's guilt or innocence; it simply indicates the inability of the jury to agree on a verdict.
Hung juries can be the result of various factors, such as conflicting evidence, juror bias, complex legal issues, or unclear instructions from the judge. They highlight the significance of a jury's collective decision-making process and the challenge of reaching a unanimous conclusion.
Common Misspellings for HUNG JURY
- gung jury
- bung jury
- nung jury
- jung jury
- uung jury
- yung jury
- hyng jury
- hhng jury
- hjng jury
- hing jury
- h8ng jury
- h7ng jury
- hubg jury
- humg jury
- hujg jury
- huhg jury
- hunf jury
- hunv jury
- hunb jury
Etymology of HUNG JURY
The term hung jury originated from the word hung in its meaning of hesitate or be undecided. It dates back to the mid-19th century in the United States. The word jury refers to a body of individuals selected to reach a verdict in a trial. When a jury, after deliberating on a case, is unable to reach a unanimous or majority decision, thus resulting in a deadlock, they are said to be a hung jury.
Similar spelling words for HUNG JURY
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