A trial that is declared invalid or ended prematurely, usually because of a serious error in the legal process or jury misconduct.
From the prefix 'mis-' (wrongly or badly) combined with 'trial' (a legal proceeding). The term developed in English common law when judges needed a word for trials that had to be thrown out.
A mistrial doesn't mean anyone is declared innocent or guilty—it essentially erases the whole trial and requires starting over, which can be frustrating for both sides but exists to protect the fairness of the justice system.
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