mistrial

noun

mis·​tri·​al ˈmis-ˌtrī(-ə)l 

: a trial that has no legal effect with regard to one or more of the charges brought against the defendant because of some serious error or prejudicial misconduct in the proceedings or a hung jury

Examples of mistrial in a Sentence

The judge declared a mistrial.

Recent Examples on the Web

The defense again argued for a mistrial while the prosecution argued that the manslaughter charge be dismissed so the jury could move ahead to deliberate on the second charge. —Brady Knox, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 6 Dec. 2024

The criminal case against her ended in a mistrial after jurors deadlocked following 26 hours of deliberation, but now prosecutors plan to try her again early next year. —Michael Ruiz, Fox News, 8 Nov. 2024

An initial trial on those charges ended in a mistrial in November 2023, when jurors could not come to an agreement on a verdict. —Rachel Smith, The Courier-Journal, 2 Nov. 2024

Earlier Friday, Wiley instructed the jury to continue deliberations and denied a request by Penny's defense attorneys to declare a mistrial. —Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1628, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

mistrial

noun

mis·​tri·​al ˈmis-ˌtrī(-ə)l 

: a trial that is cancelled because of an error in the proceedings

Legal Definition

mistrial

noun

mis·​tri·​al ˈmis-ˌtrī-əl 

: a trial that terminates without a verdict because of error, necessity, prejudicial misconduct, or a hung jury see also manifest necessity compare dismissal sense 2, trial de novo