third-degree instruction

Third degree Instruction is an instruction given by a court to a deadlocked jury to encourage it to continue deliberating until it reaches a verdict . Also called Allen charge , dynamite charge , nitroglycerine charge, and shotgun charge .

See, e.g. U.S. v. Hill, 334 Fed.Appx. 640 (5th Cir. 2009) and Allen v. U.S., 164 U.S. 492 (1896)

[Last reviewed in March of 2022 by the Wex Definitions Team ]

Wex

• accidents and injuries
• THE LEGAL PROCESS
• courts
• criminal procedure
• judicial administration
• legal practice/ethics
• wex definitions
• civil procedure
• courts and procedure
• criminal law and procedure
• legal education and practice