What is declared by the judge if a jury cannot reach a consensus?

When a jury cannot reach a consensus, the situation leads the judge to declare a mistrial. This means that the trial is deemed inconclusive or invalid due to the inability of the jurors to agree on a verdict, which is essential to the conclusion of the trial process. A mistrial can occur for various reasons, including a hung jury, where jurors are deadlocked in their decision-making, often leading to the judge determining that continuing deliberations would not yield a clear resolution.

The concept of a mistrial plays an important role in the legal system, as it allows for the possibility of retrial in the future, which can provide another chance to reach a verdict with potentially different jurors. Other options, such as a verdict or an order, imply resolutions that would not be possible without jury consensus, while an objection refers to a formal protest during a trial on evidence or procedure rather than indicating the status of jury deliberation.