What Happens If a Jury Does Not Reach a Verdict

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You might be thinking, “Come on, people, just pick a side!” But juries are made of actual humans—with opinions, biases, and that one person who refuses to budge just because they’re hangry. A hung jury can happen for lots of reasons: weak evidence, a super persuasive holdout, or even a juror who decides to rebel for the thrill of it.

For example, in a criminal case, all 12 jurors must agree on guilt or innocence. If one person digs in their heels and says, “I will never change my mind,” the whole system grinds to a halt. Talk about peer pressure gone wrong. But hey, that’s the law—unanimity is the name of the game.

What About Civil Cases? (Spoiler: They’re More Chill)

In civil trials—like when someone sues over a broken fence or a bad haircut—the rules are a little looser. Most states don’t require all 12 jurors to agree; they just need a majority, like 9 out of 12. So hung juries are rarer there. But if it happens? Same deal: mistrial, and the parties can try again or settle out of court. It’s like a legal version of “take a breather and talk it out.”

When A Colorado Jury Can’t Reach A Verdict - What Happens Next