When can a mistrial be declared in a jury trial?

• A. If a judge reports a conflict of interest.
• B. If the courtroom staff fails to follow protocol.
• C. If a jury fails to agree on a verdict after being kept together for a reasonable amount of time.
• D. If the defendant requests a mistrial.

Answer: (C)

A mistrial in a jury trial most commonly happens when the jury cannot reach a verdict after a reasonable period of deliberation, creating a deadlock. This situation, often called a hung jury, gives the court a clear path to declare a mistrial so the case can be tried again with a new jury if the parties choose to pursue it. Other scenarios described—such as a judge having a conflict of interest, staff not following protocol, or a defendant merely requesting a mistrial—do not describe the standard basis for a hung-jury mistrial. A conflict of interest typically requires the judge to step aside or for the case to be reassigned; a procedural error might necessitate a reversal or a new trial under different circumstances; and a defendant’s request alone may be granted only if there’s substantial prejudice or another miscarriage of justice, not automatically.