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In reply to the discussion: Juror B37 's Husband who is an Attorney Knows Mark O' Mara (Zimmerman's Defense Lawyer) [View all]Spazito
(55,973 posts)Here is a case where it did happen, where the State sought a mistrial after the verdict and won:
The defendant had been charged with both murder and conspiracy to murder. The jury deadlocked on the murder charge but he was acquitted on the conspiracy to murder charge.
The State sought a mistrial on the conspiracy to murder verdict arguing that there was some misunderstanding among jurors as they voted for the not guilty verdict, and asked the Judge to declare a mistrial on that charge.
The judge subsequently ruled in favor of a mistrial which allowed the State to go forward on both the conspiracy to commit murder and the murder charge in the retrial.
It is a fascinating case on the question of a mistrial after a verdict has been handed down especially given Juror B37's having said the jury didn't understand the manslaughter section of the jury instructions so decided not guilty was their only other choice.
Here is a link to the STATE TAYLOR v. JANES (West Virginia) Supreme Court of Appeals court decision:
http://caselaw.findlaw.com/wv-supreme-court-of-appeals/1520981.html
Edited to clarify jury deadlock part