Palisades Fire Jury Hits Deadlock in Jonathan Rinderknecht's Suspected Arson Trial

Jurors in the trial over the deadly January 2025 Palisades Fire told the judge they were "at a standstill," with both sides saying they were "unwilling to change their opinion." The deadlock came after two days of deliberations, with U.S. District Judge Anne Hwang even asking the jury Thursday afternoon if there was anything they could do to help – offering to re-read testimony or give additional instructions. Arson suspect Jonathan Rinderknecht's defense attorney requested an Allen charge, a judicial directive often given to a deadlocked jury that encourages further deliberations. . . .