Here's the Surprising Number of Mistrials That Have Happened on Law & Order: SVU
Benson and her squad always catch their perp, but landing a conviction can be easier said than done.
For over two decades and counting, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit has spotlighted the justice system's highs and lows as Captain Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) fights to convict some of television's worst criminals. While the NBC procedural is beloved for its shocking verdicts and courtroom showdowns, one of the rarest outcomes is a mistrial.
Unlike outright acquittals or convictions, mistrials often leave viewers feeling uneasy because of their legal limbo. SVU's March 13 episode featured one of those rare endings as ADA Sonny Carisi's (Peter Scanavino) case ended with a hung jury. It might have got some SVU fans thinking, how often does Benson and the squad miss their mark in court? The squad has thrown thousands of criminals behind bars, but every now and then, a particularly mind-boggling case throws a wrench in their success rate. It takes a seriously murky case to prompt any judge to declare a mistrial, but it can happen.
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Read on to see how often SVU cases have ended in mistrials.
How many Law & Order: SVU episodes have featured a mistrial?
Out of the over 560 SVU episodes, there have been less than 25 mistrials, testimony to Benson's indomitable force.
With 26 years on the squad behind her, Benson has seen it all as the commander of the fearless SVU, but even she experiences the occasional snafu in the courtroom. Oftentimes, the SVU's mistrials have very little to do with Benson or her detectives' work. The criminals Benson deals with are typically slimy, insidious sorts who never fail to keep her and Carisi on their toes, leading to the ever-so-rare mistrial on SVU.
Law & Order: SVU episodes with jaw-dropping mistrials
Justice is never guaranteed in the world of SVU, and even the strongest of cases can fall apart in the courtroom. Here's a breakdown of SVU episodes that have featured jaw-dropping mistrials:
Season 2, Episode 3 ("Closure [Part II]")
"Stabler and Benson investigate a sexual assault very similar to one they worked a year and a half ago, whose first-known victim now follows her alleged attacker and reports his activities anonymously to the police, and the rapist's wife."
Season 5, Episode 22 ("Painless")
"A woman claiming to have been raped and left for dead commits suicide while waiting to be treated in the emergency room."
Season 6, Episode 3 ("Obscene")
"A young TV star is attacked and the evidence suggests a radio shock jock who may have gone too far."
Season 7, Episode 6 ("Raw")
"An investigation of a horrific school sniper attack leads the team to a particularly obnoxious Neo-Nazi group."
Season 7, Episode 11 ("Alien")
"An investigation into the serious stabbing of a grade-school boy uncovers a suspect whose trial becomes about the rights of same-sex parents."
Season 7, Episode 12 ("Infected")
"When a boy shoots the man he believes killed his mother, it leads to a legal battle over gun control."
Season 9: Episode 5 ("Harm")
"A New York psychiatrist goes on trial after her torture methods are cited in the death of a former Iraqi prisoner."
Season 9, Episode 7 ("Blinded")
"Stabler suffers temporary blindness after an injury bringing a sexual predator who suffers from schizophrenia into custody. Benson's special interest in the case puts her at odds with ADA Novak, who has a personal agenda of her own."
Season 9, Episode 18 ("Trade")
"A wealthy, successful coffee trader and his son are both suspects in a young woman's murder, when evidence suggests that the woman was sexually involved with both men."
Season 9, Episode 19 ("Cold")
"Detective Lake is accused of killing a police officer, and SVU soon discovers that he has been investigating a 10-year-old cold rape case without anyone's knowledge."
Season 10, Episode 10 ("Smut")
"SVU tries to make a case against an accused serial rapist who drugs his victims so that they have no recollection of the incidents."
Season 10, Episode 21 ("Liberties")
"A judge asks an odd request for a plaintiff who is seeking a restraining order: he asks detectives to interview a convicted serial killer concerning his son's kidnapping, which took place 30 years ago."
Season 11, Episode 4 ("Hammered")
"An alcoholic who fell off the wagon is charged in the brutal rape and murder of an abortion doctor. His defense argues that alcoholism is a disease, but why is ADA Paxton so bitterly opposed to the claim?"
Season 13, Episode 18 ("Valentine's Day")
"A rape investigation is set into motion after a husband sees his wife being attacked while video chatting."
Season 14, Episode 12 ("Criminal Hatred")
"SVU and the DA's office struggle with finding the right strategy in a case dealing with a gay man who is picking up and then attacking closeted gay married men."
Season 14, Episode 24 ("Her Negotiation")
"A man is arrested for exposing himself in Central Park. Detective Rollins has a feeling there is more to the suspect and sets the team in motion on finding out his identity. The suspect masterfully outplays them at every turn, the situation quickly escalates as Detective Benson's life is put at risk."
Season 15, Episode 18 ("Criminal Stories")
"A columnist who has been given access to the squad for a story declares a hate crime case a hoax, leaving the victim under media scrutiny and Benson fighting to get the case back on solid ground."
Season 17, Episode 9 ("Depravity Standard")
"In trying a prior case the team runs into many obstacles, including recalcitrant witnesses and an overreaching volunteer cop. Carisi job-shadows Barba and Rollins runs into problems at the hospital."
Season 19, Episode 10 ("Pathological")
"When the SVU investigates a case involving two students in a special needs school, Rollins discovers that one child's medical issues stem from a surprising source."
Season 19, Episode 14 ("Chasing Demons")
"A doctor who was arrested for sexually abusing his patients is set free due to Cassidy's testimony which results in a mistrial."
Season 25, Episode 10 ("Combat Fatigue")
"The squad is on edge as Carisi waits for a verdict in Maddie's kidnapping case. Benson tries to help the Flynn family pick up the pieces of their broken life."
Season 26, Episode 15 ("Undertow")
"A complicated case of sex and drug use divides the squad; Carisi must convince a jury to focus on the law and not the defendant's accusations."
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Want to dive into some of Benson's toughest cases to crack? Watch every mistrial episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit on Peacock, NBC's streaming service. Stay caught up with Benson and the squad by watching Season 26 of Law & Order: SVU on Thursdays at 9/8c on NBC, or stream episodes the next day on Peacock.
