Fulton County Superior Court today declared a mistrial in the case of George Bright, accused of bombing the Atlanta Jewish Temple last October 12.
The action was announced by Judge Durwood Pye after the jury had been “hopelessly deadlocked” and had deliberated for almost 24 hours covering a four-day span. The jury foreman reported the division of the jury by 9 to 3 as unchanging and each member of the jury individually told the court there was no possibility of a change in decision. Judge Pye then declared a mistrial, instructing each of the jurymen not to make public his vote.
Attorneys for the defense immediately asked dismissal of all charges against Bright on the grounds that the defense did not concur in the court’s decision for a mistrial. The defense called attention to an 1858 decision of the Georgie Supreme Court which says that a judge in a case where a demand for early trial has been filed–as it had been in this one–cannot declare a mistrial except for “providential causes” without consent of the defense.
The defense filed a demurral from the court order and sought to make a number of arguments for the dismissal of the case against Bright, but Judge Pye declined to hear further demurral arguments and said that a new trial would be held as soon as a new jury is selected.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
