retrial

British  

/ riːˈtraɪəl /

noun

1. a second or new trial, esp of a case that has already been adjudicated upon

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Explanation

In law, a retrial is a new trial for a case that's already been tried, or that's had its trial halted because of a hung jury or another disqualifying reason. An attorney can file for a retrial if she believes there's been some kind of misconduct or bias on the part of the jury, or if she discovers that a judge has some conflict of interest. If a defendant is found guilty during a trial, she can continue to request retrials for reasons like newly discovered evidence. In the United States, when someone is tried and found to be innocent, the Fifth Amendment does not allow a retrial.

Example Sentences

The court determined that the trial judge failed to inform his lawyers that some of the jurors raised questions about the English proficiency of one of the panel members and ordered a retrial.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2026

The retrial was postponed on four occasions between 2023 and 2025, before it restarted in Syros on Wednesday.

From BBC • Mar. 4, 2026

The retrial of Manchester United defender Harry Maguire highlighted key differences between the Greek and British criminal justice systems and explained why a case stemming from a 2020 incident is only now being heard again.

From BBC • Mar. 4, 2026

If denied a retrial, Harpootlian said they would appeal to federal courts, where the bar of what constitutes jury tampering has historically been lower.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 12, 2026

In the retrial, the jury convicted and imprisoned De La Beckwith for the murder of Medgar Evers.

From "While the World Watched: A Birmingham Bombing Survivor Comes of Age during the Civil Rights Movement" by Carolyn Maull McKinstry