What is a hung jury?

• A. A unanimous verdict quickly
• B. A jury can't reach a unanimous decision
• C. A jury that is dismissed
• D. The judge decides

Answer: (B)

A hung jury happens when, after thorough deliberation, the jurors cannot reach a unanimous decision about guilt or innocence. In many trials, a unanimous verdict is required, so when the jurors can’t agree, no verdict is reached and the judge may declare a mistrial. The case can then be tried again with a new jury. It’s not that the judge decides the outcome, and it’s not simply that the jury is dismissed. The key idea is the deadlock among jurors preventing a unanimous verdict.