How Long Do Jury Deliberations Take? | The US Sun

• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)

KYLE Rittenhouse was found not guilty of all charges by a Wisconsin jury on November 19.

Rittenhouse was charged with the killing of 26-year-old Anthony Huber and 26-year-old Joseph Rosenbaum during the Kenosha Black Life Matters riots last year.

Sign up for The US Sun newsletter

Thank you!

Email address

Please provide a valid email.

Your info will be used in accordance with our Privacy Policy

You'll now receive top stories, breaking news, and more, straight to your email.

How long do jury deliberations take?

Depending on the case, jury deliberations can last anywhere between a few minutes and a few weeks.

Advertisement

In the majority of states and all federal courts, the jury must come to an unanimous decision before they can make any announcements.

Because of this, there is no set time limit on jury deliberations. Once the jury receives the charge, or the judge’s written instructions on the law, the decision is left up to them.

In a process that takes place in private quarters behind closed doors, the jury deliberates in secret until they reach an unanimous decision. This can take awhile, or no time at all depending on the case.

While there is no sure fire way of knowing what conclusion the jury will come to, some predictions can be made based on the amount of time spent deliberating.

Many find that when a jury makes a decision rather quickly, the defendant is often guilty. On the other hand, when a deliberation takes an extended amount of time, many may see it as the opposite.

Most read in News

GRISLY END

Man bleeds to death after 'cutting off his penis & slicing throat' on LA street

BALLOT BRAWL

In South Dakota you'll soon be able to challenge other voters' citizenship

COAST CRACKDOWN

US beaches closed for Spring Break for a MONTH from March 12

'IT'S OVER'

Trump says Iran war is ‘complete' & claims 'they were going to attack us'

What is a jury deliberation room?

According to the NCSC, a jury deliberation room “must be comfortable, well ventilated, and designed to minimize the stress on jurors.

“The jury deliberation room must protect the privacy of the jurors and their deliberations and assure confidentiality.”

In many courthouses, the conference room or jury assembly room may be used as a deliberation room as well. Larger courthouses typically have a room specifically for the purpose of deliberations.

Advertisement

The room should have soundproofing, controlled circulation, and supervision by a court officer. There should be a bathroom available, as well as a lock.

Telephones are not allowed in a jury deliberation room.

What are some examples of jury deliberation times?

In the case of Kyle Rittenhouse, many are left wondering how long it will take to find out whether he is named innocent or guilty.

While there is no way to determine an exact amount of time, there have been some interesting details to pay attention to in this case.

Advertisement

For one, Judge Bruce Schroeder allowed Rittenhouse to hand-draw the numbered slips of paper to determine the jury deliberators himself. This task is typically done by a courtroom clerk, not the defendant.

The 12-member jury began their deliberation on Tuesday, November 16, following the closing arguments giving on the previous Monday.

If convicted, Rittenhouse faces up to life in prison.

In one infamous murder case, the trial of Casey Anthony, the jurors took a total of ten hours to reach their conclusion in finding her not guilty of felony charges.

RECOMMENDED STORIES

Derek Chauvin, a former police officer who was convicted of murder, also faced a jury deliberation of ten hours.

Advertisement

One of the longest jury deliberations in history took place in 2003 and lasted for 55 days. Jurors in Oakland, California faced the task of determining the fate of three police officers accused of assaulting and falsely arresting residents.