Allen charge
What does Allen charge mean in American Law?
The definition of Allen charge in the law of the United States, as defined by the lexicographer Arthur Leff in his legal dictionary is:
A kind of charge (approved by the Supreme Court in Allen v. U.S., 164 U.S. 492 (1896)) delivered to a jury theretofore unable to reach a verdict of guilt or innocence in a criminal case because one or a few jurors were holding out. It is designed to break the impasse and prevent a hung jury (hence its other names, “dynamite charge,” and “shotgun charge”). The gist of the charge is that while each juror must be individually convinced, absolute certainty is not required, that the jury has a duty to reach a
verdict if it conscientiously can, and that each juror should listen to the others’ views with a disposition to be convinced, especially taking into account the number of jurors who are convinced. Though at least one populous state, California, recently disapproved the use of such charges, versions of the Allen charge are in use in almost every State and Federal jurisdiction.
Meaning of Allen Charge
In this law dictionary, the legal term allen charge is a kind of the Criminal procedure class.
Leave a Reply