I've never been to a trial, but in the ones I've seen on-screen, I've noticed that the judge always says when the trial is done for the day (they also decide the day for the next... session(?)). Is it really up to them? If they wanted, could a trial last 24 hours non-stop? Or even more?
shareI've been on a few juries. Yes, it is up to the judge when the trial starts and stops. If the lawyers and jury agreed, the trial can last late in the day. I was on one trial that went until about midnight because one of the jurors had a trip planned for the next day and wouldn't have been there.
I don't think anyone would agree to stay 24 hours or longer, though.
Agree? So the judge couldn't actually force people to stay for the trial?
shareJudges have to follow a Code of Conduct (as do attorneys) and if they go astray it could get them in trouble (unlikely as that is), or it could lead to a court decision being overturned on appeal - also not a common occurrence, but I imagine most judges have the concern of a potential appeal somewhere in the back of their minds.
A judge asking a jury to sit for 24 hours would seem an issue ripe for appeal.
Not to mention the simple impracticalities - is the building even open? All the personnel that need to stay past hours, etc. A one-time extension as Patricia describes is not quite the same thing. I would expect in that scenario the judge still checked with all the jurors that they would be able to do it. Judges are usually trying to make things easier for jurors, not vice versa.
The bear does not quit. The bear will not die.
Yes, on that one occasion, the attorneys, jurors, bailiffs, court reporter, everyone agreed to stay as long as it took to reach a verdict.