hung jury

American  

noun

1. a jury that cannot agree on a verdict.

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hung jury Cultural  

1. A jury that is unable to reach a verdict of guilty or not guilty. The result is a mistrial, and legal proceedings must be reinitiated to bring the case to trial again. Trying the case a second time does not constitute double jeopardy.

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Etymology

Origin of hung jury

An Americanism dating back to 1840–50

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

hung jury

“The court finds that these two pieces of evidence presented here would have not have resulted in a hung jury nor in the conviction of a lesser instructed offense.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2025

The jury also sent a note Monday morning asking Judge Farber to reread the concept of reasonable doubt and rules of deliberation "especially in terms of avoiding a hung jury".

From BBC ● Jun. 9, 2025

Menendez was coming off his first federal corruption trial, which ended in a hung jury.

From Seattle Times ● Jun. 5, 2024

Seven years later Bakr's trial ended in a hung jury and a retrial was ordered.

From BBC ● Jun. 3, 2024

Let’s take it into the Judge and let the kid take his chances with twelve other guys. 8TH JUROR: I don’t think the court will accept a hung jury.

From "Twelve Angry Men" by Reginald Rose

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