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  3. third-degree instruction

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]

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