jury nullification

noun

: the acquitting of a defendant by a jury in disregard of the judge's instructions and contrary to the jury's findings of fact

Examples of jury nullification in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Why is jury nullification an appropriate remedy to criminal charges for protesting? —Chester Eduardo Fernández, Hartford Courant, 1 June 2024

The prosecution agreed to the plea deal over concerns of jury nullification, because the boy was about two months away from turning 16 when the incident occurred, according to the Canyon County Prosecutor’s Office. —Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 10 May 2024

Which sounds like an argument for jury nullification. —Louis Menand, The New Yorker, 31 July 2023

Shortly after his closing argument began, Brooks referenced jury nullification, which Opper objected to and Dorow struck from the record. —Jim Riccioli, Journal Sentinel, 25 Oct. 2022

Joey Jackson, a defense lawyer and CNN legal analyst, raised the possibility of jury nullification. —Ray Sanchez, CNN, 23 Dec. 2021

Thanks to a bit of jury nullification and some sharp legal work Hovind got off entirely, while Hansen was sentenced to eighteen months. —Peter J Reilly, Forbes, 5 June 2021

One of the most famous cases of jury nullification occurred during the 1955 trial of two white men in Mississippi who were accused of murdering Emmett Till, a black teenager who had allegedly whistled at a white woman. —John Blake, CNN, 5 Feb. 2020

The federal government eventually pressed charges, but at that point, jury nullification reared its ugly head. —Nicole Hemmer, Vox, 18 May 2018

Word History

First Known Use

1972, in the meaning defined above

Legal Definition

jury nullification

noun

: the acquitting of a defendant by a jury in disregard of the judge's instructions and contrary to the jury's findings of fact

Note: Jury nullification is most likely to occur when a jury is sympathetic toward a defendant or regards the law under which the defendant is charged with disfavor. Except for a statutory requirement to the contrary, a jury does not have to be instructed on the possibility of jury nullification.