Can a jury be pressured into a verdict by the trial court?

A claim that the trial court pressured a jury into reaching a verdict depends on the particular circumstances of the case. (People v. Pride, supra, 3 Cal.4th at p. 265.) Thus, when reviewing a coercion claim, we examine "whether or not the court's remarks in sending the jury back for further deliberations indicate[] an opinion on his part as to the guilt or innocence of the defendant, and whether the court creates the impression that in his mind the jury ought to convict." (People v. Diaz (1962) 208 Cal.App.2d 41, 50.)

The trial court here gave these instructions after the jury said it was deadlocked: