Historic Ruling: New York Court Upholds Verdict by 11 Jurors

A New York court has made legal history by allowing a criminal verdict from only 11 jurors to stand. The decision ends a 342-year-old legal precedent in the state. The case involved a violent attack with machetes following a dispute over an escort service. During the trial, a mysterious visitor approached a juror, leading to that juror's dismissal. With only 11 jurors remaining, the panel reached a guilty verdict. The defense argued that a full 12-member jury was required by centuries of tradition. New York's highest court, the Court of Appeals, disagreed. In its ruling, the court stated that a verdict from 11 jurors is legally valid if all parties agree to continue the trial. This landmark decision modernizes a rule established when New York was an English colony. It provides judges with a new option for handling unforeseen jury issues.