Terms Used In Texas Code of Criminal Procedure 37.11

  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Mistrial: An invalid trial, caused by fundamental error. When a mistrial is declared, the trial must start again from the selection of the jury.
  • Verdict: The decision of a petit jury or a judge.

Where several defendants are tried together, the jury may convict each defendant it finds guilty and acquit others. If it agrees to a verdict as to one or more, it may find a verdict in accordance with such agreement, and if it cannot agree as to others, a mistrial may be entered as to them.