As many as it takes. Or until the universe conspires to make the trial impossible. There’s no cap—just the judge’s patience, the prosecutor’s budget, and the defendant’s will to survive.
If you want a hard number, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court has never set a limit. But they have hinted that too many mistrials might violate a defendant’s right to a speedy trial. (Thanks, Sixth Amendment.)
So, the real answer? Three to seven is the sweet spot before a judge gets a headache and says, “Enough.” But legally, you could go for double digits. Imagine 10 mistrials. That’s a decade of courtrooms, coffee, and confused jurors.
Takeaway: It’s a game of chance
Massachusetts doesn’t count your mistrials like baseball strikes. You get infinite swings until someone hits the ball—or the umpire walks off the field.
Embrace the chaos. Every mistrial is a tiny, legal miracle. It means the system is working... eventually.
Next time you watch a courtroom drama, remember: in Massachusetts, a mistrial isn’t a failure. It’s just the first chapter of a very long book with no table of contents.
Now, go forth and impress your friends with this trivia. Say, “Did you know you can have seven mistrials in Massachusetts?” Watch their jaws drop. Smile. You’re now the fun fact champion.
