People v. Watkins

In People v. Watkins, 293 Ill. App. 3d 496, 507, 688 N.E.2d 798, 805-06, 228 Ill. Dec. 100 (1997), the court held that "it may be improper for a court to issue supplemental instructions urging deadlocked jurors to reach a unanimous verdict after the court becomes aware that a majority of jurors favor conviction." The reason is that a supplemental jury instruction may have a coercive effect upon the minority juror and might lead the minority juror to believe the judge agrees with the majority. Watkins, 293 Ill. App. 3d at 507, 688 N.E.2d at 806. However, Watkins also holds that "where the trial court receives an unsolicited statement regarding the numerical division of the jurors, an order instructing the jury to continue its deliberations does not constitute error." Watkins, 293 Ill. App. 3d at 507, 688 N.E.2d at 806.