How many jurors must agree in order to reach a verdict?

Federal court cases require jury verdicts to be unanimous, regardless of criminal or civil status. In state courts, the requirement varies depending on the state and type of trial.

Only two states, Louisiana and Oregon, permit criminal trials to have a less-than-unanimous verdict. All other states require all jurors to agree in criminal trials. In Louisiana and Oregon, convictions can be won with an 11-to-1 or a 10-to-2 agreement.

The number of jurors that must agree on a civil trial verdict varies, with a majority verdict acceptable in nearly one-third of states. Some states have rules that allow a less-than-unanimous verdict if the monetary settlement is below a certain amount.