State v. Harris

In State v. Harris, 156 N.J. 122, 716 A.2d 458, (1998), cert. denied U.S. 121 S. Ct. 2204, 149 L. Ed. 2d 1034 (2001), the Court held that the trial court did not coerce the minority of jurors into accepting the majority's position after sending them back to deliberate more upon receipt of a deadlock note. Id. at 184, 716 A.2d 458. The Court expressly noted that the supplemental instruction clearly instructed the jurors not to change their opinions simply to agree with other jurors or to "surrender a view honestly held." Ibid.