mistrial

mis·tri·al | \ ˈmis-ˌtrī(-ə)l

Definition of mistrial

: 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 After the deadlock, Judge Barry Williams declared a mistrial. — Bob Egelko, SFChronicle.com, "Why is it hard to convict police officers of homicide? One reason is authority, juror says," 22 June 2020 The move comes about a month after the prosecutor in the case moved for the dismissal following a mistrial in mid-March. — Steven Martinez, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Judge dismisses the charge accusing a Pewaukee priest of sexually assaulting a teenager in a confessional," 10 June 2020 Hanel's case went to trial in March of this year, but ended without a verdict when Judge Michael Maxwell declared a mistrial in the case after the courtroom disclosure of the girl's mother's attempts to gain legal status to stay in the U.S. — Steven Martinez, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Judge dismisses the charge accusing a Pewaukee priest of sexually assaulting a teenager in a confessional," 10 June 2020 The state murder trial of Michael Slager, the officer charged with shooting Walter Scott, ended in 2016 with a hung jury and mistrial. — Eric Levenson, CNN, "Why the three other officers in George Floyd's death have not been charged -- yet," 1 June 2020 Crotty declared a mistrial on the remaining eight counts. — Shane Harris, BostonGlobe.com, "Jury in CIA leaks case fails to reach a verdict on most serious charges," 9 Mar. 2020 Crotty declared a mistrial on the remaining eight counts. — Author: Shayna Jacobs, Shane Harris, Anchorage Daily News, "Jury in CIA leaks case fails to reach a verdict on most serious charges," 9 Mar. 2020 Grundy's first trial in Indianapolis began on July 8, and ended in a mistrial on July 10 over a violation of a court order concerning the personal information of members of the jury. — Crystal Hill, Indianapolis Star, "'You are a lawless individual': Drug trafficker Richard Grundy sentenced to life," 12 Dec. 2019 Waukesha County Circuit Judge Michael Maxwell declared a mistrial in the case in March after information became public about the girl's mother's attempts to gain legal status to stay in the U.S. — Steven Martinez, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "State plans to drop charges against a Pewaukee priest accused of sexually assaulting a teenager," 1 May 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'mistrial.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Mistress of the Robes

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Last Updated

28 Jun 2020

Cite this Entry

“Mistrial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mistrial. Accessed 9 Jul. 2020.

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More Definitions for mistrial

mistrial

noun

English Language Learners Definition of mistrial

law : a trial that is not valid because of an error or because the jury is unable to decide a verdict

See the full definition for mistrial in the English Language Learners Dictionary

mistrial

noun

mis·tri·al | \ ˈmis-ˌtrī-əl

Legal Definition of mistrial

: 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

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