What is the current state of the law on inconsistent verdicts?
California, United States of America
The following excerpt is from People v. Burciaga, F067420 (Cal. App. 2015):
"It is well settled that, as a general rule, inherently inconsistent verdicts are allowed to stand. [Citations.]" (People v. Lewis, supra, 25 Cal.4th at p. 656.) The existence of inconsistent verdicts does not imply that the jury must have been confused. (Ibid.) "An inconsistency may show no more than jury lenity, compromise, or mistake, none of which undermines the validity of a verdict. [Citations.]" (Ibid.) The rule that inconsistent verdicts are allowed to stand "applies equally to inconsistent enhancement findings ... and to an enhancement finding that is inconsistent with the verdict on a
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