Legal Procedures Following a Hung Jury
1. Declaration of Mistrial: The judge formally declares a mistrial when the jury is unable to reach a unanimous verdict. This halts the trial proceedings without a final decision.
2. Decision on Retrial: After a mistrial, the prosecution decides whether to retry the case with a new jury. They consider factors like the strength of evidence, the seriousness of the case, and the likelihood of securing a different outcome.
3. Dismissal of Charges: In some cases, especially if the evidence is weak or the case is not deemed serious, the prosecution may choose not to pursue a retrial. This results in the charges being dismissed, and the defendant is freed from further legal proceedings related to that particular case.
4. New Jury Selection: If the prosecution opts for a retrial, a new jury is selected, and the trial process begins again from the beginning, with new jurors hearing the evidence and arguments presented by both sides.
5. Review of Trial Strategies: Both the prosecution and the defense may review their trial strategies based on the outcome of the hung jury, making adjustments to strengthen their case or address any weaknesses that became apparent during the initial trial.