Rule 26.3 Mistrial

Here's a plain English summary:

If a judge is thinking about stopping a trial before it's finished (called a mistrial), the judge has to talk to both sides first. This means the prosecutor and the defendant (or defendants, if there's more than one) get a chance to speak up before the judge makes a final decision.

Each side can tell the judge whether they agree with stopping the trial or whether they think it should continue. They can also suggest other options instead of ending the trial completely. For example, someone might suggest a short break, a warning to the jury, or some other fix that solves the problem without throwing out the whole trial.

This rule exists to make sure judges don't end trials too quickly without hearing input from everyone involved. A mistrial can be a big deal. It might mean starting the whole case over, which costs time and money and affects the people involved. By requiring this conversation first, the rule helps make sure a mistrial only happens when it's really needed, and not before other solutions get a fair chance.