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

See Examples For:

retrial

Some went as far as to say a retrial would be a waste of time and prosecutors should walk away from the case altogether.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 29, 2026

After multiple hearings and appeals, a full retrial was held late last year, leading to Thursday’s ruling.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 21, 2026

A retrial jury has been discharged after it failed to reach verdicts over allegations that two brothers assaulted a police officer at Manchester Airport.

From BBC ● May 20, 2026

The state Supreme Court, in a unanimous ruling, tossed out Murdaugh's murder conviction and ordered a retrial.

From Barron's ● May 13, 2026

A retrial was requested, but Ray, seventy, died of liver failure on April 23, 1998, before the new trial could take place.5 After King’s assassination, I worried that the Civil Rights dream might end.

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