What is described as the inability of a jury to reach a verdict?

The inability of a jury to reach a verdict is referred to as a mistrial. A mistrial occurs when there is a significant issue during the trial that prevents a verdict from being reached, which could be due to various factors such as jury deadlock, procedural errors, or issues with juror conduct. When a mistrial is declared, the case may be retried with a new jury, as the previous jury's inability to agree on a conclusion indicates that the trial did not proceed to a lawful or fair conclusion.

This term accurately describes the situation where a jury cannot come to a unanimous or majority decision, which is essential for rendering a verdict in many legal systems. The other terms provided relate to different legal concepts; for instance, a motion refers to a formal request made to the court, a non suit refers to a case that is dismissed, and an oath is a solemn promise regarding one's commitment to tell the truth. Thus, none of these options encapsulate the specific context of a jury's inability to reach a verdict as a mistrial does.