When a jury is unable to reach a unanimous decision in a criminal trial, it results in what is commonly referred to as a “hung jury.” Records show that retrials of deadlocked jury decisions aren’t as common as previously thought. Hung jury retrial statistics can help us learn more about the frequency, outcomes, and impact of deadlocked juries on the legal system.
Hung jury retrials across US court jurisdictions account for less than 5% of the total cases, with less than 30% of the retrials ending with a conviction.
Understanding the hung jury trial phenomenon is easier when correct data is available to provide more context to jurors’ decisions. In this article, we will look at ten (10) major hung jury retrial statistics in the US.
Key Hung Jury Retrial Statistics
Here are some notable data surrounding hung jury retrials in the US:
1. A US longitudinal study puts hung jury rates around 2% to 3%
National Center for State Courts
A detailed study shows that hung jury rates across America hover around 2%-3% on average. Court jurisdictions with a massive scope, more cases, and busier schedules are more likely to entertain deadlocked decisions.
2. Only two (2) US states allowed non-unanimous verdicts in criminal trials until 2020
US Supreme Court
According to data from the US Supreme Court, Oregon and Louisiana were the two US states that allowed non-unanimity in jury decisions, thereby avoiding deadlocked trials. However, recent changes to how verdicts are interpreted in both states are impacting such decisions, especially in Louisiana.
3. A US study found around 5% of hung juries in over 3,500 criminal trials
Center for Jury Studies
The numbers from a US study show that about 175 out of 3,500 criminal trials will end in hung jury decisions at the first vote. Several factors like disputable evidence or defense attorney skills might cause jurors to reach hung decisions.
4. Over 26% of hung jury retrials end with a conviction
Department of Justice
Records show that about 13 out of every 50 hung jury retrials in the US will end with a conviction. Hung jury retrials may provide jurors with more evidence and furnish them with new facts to interpret the law correctly.
5. Over 12% of hung jury rates in DC were hung on all counts
National Center for State Courts
More than 1 in 10 hung jury decisions across courts in the District of Columbia were deadlocked on every count. With more than 12% of deadlocked jury decisions, DC ranks among jurisdictions where multiple hung jury retrials take place annually.
6. The rate of hung jury retrials in the Bronx jurisdiction is 3.1%
Department of Justice
Hung jury decisions that require retrials across Bronx courts stand at 3.1%. The figure means that around 1 out of every 50 jury decisions in the Bronx courts will be deadlocked and need retrials.
7. Eleven (11) major factors determine whether a hung jury decision will occur in US courts
Court Statistics Project
A dozen elements across four sections (demographics, evidence, complexity, and deliberations) determine whether hung jury decisions will happen in courts. These elements are:
- Type of court – Federal courts (less likely to see hung jury decisions) or state courts (more likely to arrive at hung jury decisions)
- Charge count – More charges against defendant(s) increases the chances of hung jury decisions
- Case complexity – The complex nature of some cases might bring juries to deadlocked decisions. However, the same isn’t true for judges with complex cases to interpret before judgments.
- Evidence ambiguity – The absence of irrefutable evidence makes it easy to reach close calls or deadlocked (hung) decisions
- Credibility of police testimony – Hung juries are likely to disagree with police testimony tied to a deadlocked case
- Believability of defendant – Testimonies of some defendants may not be believed by all jurors, leading to a hung decision
- Attorney competence – The skills of defense attorneys could lead to more favorable decisions and cause a hung jury decision
- Vote timing – The jurors’ vote might hang if they vote prematurely during deliberations
- Deliberations structure – Deliberations driven by evidence are less likely to hang than those based on other methods to seek verdicts
- Dynamism of jurors – Some hung juries might report conflict among jurymen or women amid the deliberations
- Perception of laws’ fairness – Some hung juries might disagree with the interpretation of legally correct outcomes and vote to hang the entire decision
8. The average hung jury rate in US state court jurisdictions is 6.2%
Department of Justice
Collated numbers show that US state court hung decisions are about 6.2% nationwide. Figures compiled across several sources vary widely and are dependent on factors unique to some districts.
9. Hung jury decisions in four major US districts from first to last vote stands at 4%
National Center for State Courts
The Bronx (NY), Maricopa (AZ), Los Angeles (CA), and DC district courts, throughout all votes currently return 4% deadlocked decisions. The figure means that 2 out of 50 jury decisions across the said counties will hang across several votes.
10. 24% of jury decisions are likely to hang at first vote based on the ambiguity of the evidence
Department of Justice
Collated figures show that about 24 out of every 100 jury decisions might hang at its first vote. Ambiguous evidence is the main reason why jury decisions could hang at their initial vote count.
Jury decisions result in a hung due to several reasons, such as inadmissible evidence or misrepresentation. However, the numbers show that about 76% of jury decisions are not deadlocked at first vote.
Conclusion
Hung jury retrials are a significant aspect of the legal process, occurring in a notable percentage of criminal trials. By understanding the frequency, outcomes, and impact of retrials arising from hung juries, we gain valuable insights into the complexities and challenges faced by the US legal system.
