topic Re: Hung Juries in Community Chat

Hung Juries

occasionalrain — Sun, 17 May 2026 15:21:41 GMT

It seems to me there should be a limit on how many times a person can be retried for the same crime when juries are hung again and again.

It's unfair to the defendant/defendants and expensive for both defendants and tax payers. If three separate juries, 36 separate citizens, can't come to agreement, than the charges should be dismissed.

Re: Hung Juries

Goldengate8361 — Sun, 17 May 2026 15:25:33 GMT

I agree.

Re: Hung Juries

They CallMe MRWILKES — Sun, 17 May 2026 15:45:07 GMT

I also agree.

For example, the jury on the 3rd Weinstein trial was split 9/3 in favor of acquittal according to many juror interviews that I've seen here on local stations.

At some point the prosecution should realize that it doesn't have sufficient, credible witnesses. And many jurors in this case doubted and questioned the testimony of the primary witness.

It's up to the Prosecutor in charge to decide how to proceed.

Re: Hung Juries

kitcat51 — Sun, 17 May 2026 16:34:53 GMT

no.

Re: Hung Juries

occasionalrain — Sun, 17 May 2026 18:16:16 GMT

It's unfair since, unless the defendant is quite wealthy, they can't afford a competent attorney each time?

Public Defenders are either inexperienced, incompetent, and overworked. They pressure their assigned client to take a plea deal, guilty or not, to clear cases.

The very fact that jurors on three juries found reasonable doubt should dismissed the charges.

Re: Hung Juries

ROMARY — Sun, 17 May 2026 18:39:28 GMT

Keeping this case aside, it seems to me that, say, if a person is truly innocent, why financially burden that person into possible poverty?

Not to mention the cost of many trials. Almost like hunting over and over again for specific jurors who will vote for a guilty verdict, no matter what.

Just my opinion right now.

Re: Hung Juries

occasionalrain — Sun, 17 May 2026 18:46:19 GMT

@ROMARY

Exactly, the prosecution knows which jurors voted not guilty and can seat one's similar to those who voted guilty.

Re: Hung Juries

Tinkrbl44 — Sun, 17 May 2026 19:53:43 GMT

@occasionalrain wrote:
It seems to me there should be a limit on how many times a person can be retried for the same crime when juries are hung again and again.
It's unfair to the defendant/defendants and expensive for both defendants and tax payers. If three separate juries, 36 separate citizens, can't come to agreement, than the charges should be dismissed.

@occasionalrain

Generally, I agree with you. However, in the case of Harvey Weinstein, I hope they drain his bank accounts and repeated cases make his life a living h ell.

JMO, of course.

Re: Hung Juries

occasionalrain — Sun, 17 May 2026 20:08:51 GMT

@Tinkrbl44

If those prosecutors can't even convict Harvey, they need to find a different job.

Re: Hung Juries

cjm61 — Sun, 17 May 2026 20:36:36 GMT

I don't agree there should be a limit @occasionalrain . However, in my opinion, it depends on the seriousness of the crime as well as if any new evidence and witnesses come forward after the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd trial. If so, and there is a strong case, by all means retry. I am not sure what case you are referring to but I don't think there should ever be a law stating you can only prosecute once or twice.

Re: Hung Juries

ROMARY — Sun, 17 May 2026 21:01:16 GMT

Something doesn't 'sit right' with me.

If there aren't any limitations, try a case over and over and over again. Might be five, ten, twelve, fifteen times?

The funds don't come out of the prosecutors/ private funds, so they might think, why not?

But, it just doesn't seem 'right' to me right now.

Especially if many jurors aren't completely sure about the defendant's guilt.

In other case trials, it could be that the person happens to be innocent. Wrong place, wrong time situation. It could happen to anyone.

Walking down the street, passing an indoor murder scene house, viewed on a neighbor's security camera.

Hey, who would be the first suspect?

Re: Hung Juries

occasionalrain — Sun, 17 May 2026 21:33:08 GMT

The case can be dismissed without prejudice, so if new evidence is found it can be refiled. It's not an acquittal.

Re: Hung Juries

ROMARY — Sun, 17 May 2026 22:34:56 GMT

Yes, dismissed without prejudice.

Now, in certain cases, that seems 'right' to me.

Re: Hung Juries

occasionalrain — Mon, 18 May 2026 01:06:15 GMT

@Tinkrbl44 Except he's already been convicted in other cases and would be spending his days in an unplesent jail instead of a nice courtroom.

Re: Hung Juries

Imaoldhippie — Mon, 18 May 2026 09:52:40 GMT

Wow, so we should let criminals go because juries cant make up their minds? Just because 12 people cant come to an agreement does not make the defendant innocent or guilty. There has to be a verdict either way.

To my thinking its not the juries fault, the lawyer and/or the prosecutor did not do their job.

Re: Hung Juries

They CallMe MRWILKES — Mon, 18 May 2026 12:09:59 GMT

In the case of the most recent Weinstein trial, the defense actually did its job:

Reasonable doubt was raised as to the credibility of the prosecution's key witness.

Whenever there's a hung jury or mistrial the prosecution needs to seriously reevaluate its strategy, witness testimony and importantly, the cost to taxpayers of a retrial.

Re: Hung Juries

occasionalrain — Mon, 18 May 2026 12:50:14 GMT

@Imaoldhippie

Not just one jury, but three, that's 36 jurors that couldn't agree. To me, no one should have to sit through a trial defend themselves and pay an attorney more than three times.

Re: Hung Juries

Estellee — Mon, 18 May 2026 13:24:30 GMT

I'd be surprised if this man ever leaves prison, he is seriously ill.

Re: Hung Juries

beckyb1012 — Mon, 18 May 2026 14:47:03 GMT

I agree, three strikes and your out should apply to hung juries as well.

Re: Hung Juries

Sooner — Mon, 18 May 2026 15:26:41 GMT

Every time a case is tried, two winners walk out of the courtroom: The attorneys.

A lot of this is about the money (often coming from our pockets). And if you think it's not about the money, it's about about the money. And it's a game. And at some point, a panel of judges should decide one way or the other--unless new evidence is presented.