Court Opinion

ID: 9532050
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 04:17:28.804211+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:28:39.649983
License: Public Domain

T. G. Kavanagh, J.
(dissenting). I agree that the ABA standard jury instruction 5.4 is an acceptable instruction if given before the jury retires to deliberate.
Once a deadlock develops, however, the only purpose to be served by any such instruction given at that time is to coerce a verdict. This is what I believe is improper.
*343I would eliminate § (b) from the ABA standard instruction.
In the instant case, because I am convinced the jury was coerced into a verdict, I would set aside the conviction.
Levin, J., concurred with T. G. Kavanagh, J.