Mistrial Declared in Stanford Student Protest Case

Jury unable to reach verdict on charges against five students for 2024 pro-Palestinian demonstration

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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A judge declared a mistrial in the case of five current and former Stanford University students charged after pro-Palestinian protests in 2024, when they barricaded themselves inside the university president and provost executive offices. The jury was deadlocked on felony charges of vandalism and conspiracy to trespass, with the judge dismissing the jurors after they said more deliberation would not help break the impasse.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing tensions between free speech, lawful dissent, and property damage during campus protests over the Israel-Hamas conflict. While the students argued their protest was protected, prosecutors contended they caused significant damage. The mistrial leaves unresolved the broader questions of how universities and authorities should respond to such demonstrations.

The details

Demonstrators barricaded themselves inside the offices for several hours on June 5, 2024, the last day of spring classes. Prosecutors said the defendants spray-painted the building, broke windows and furniture, disabled security cameras, and splattered a red liquid described as fake blood. Defense attorneys argued the protest was protected speech and there was insufficient evidence of intent to damage property.

  • The protest occurred on June 5, 2024, the last day of spring classes at Stanford.
  • The trial in Santa Clara County lasted three weeks before the mistrial was declared on February 13, 2026.

The players

Judge Hanley Chew

The judge who declared the mistrial after the jury was unable to reach a verdict.

Jeff Rosen

The Santa Clara County District Attorney who said he would pursue a new trial.

Germán González

A sophomore at Stanford when he was arrested, who said the students would continue to fight the charges.

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What they’re saying

“This case is about a group of people who destroyed someone else's property and caused hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage. That is against the law and that is why we will retry the case.”

— Jeff Rosen, Santa Clara County District Attorney (wral.com)

“The District Attorney's Office had Stanford University supporting them and other multibillion-dollar institutions behind them, and even then the district attorney was unable to convict us. No matter what happens, we will continue to fight tooth and nail for as long as possible, because at the end of the day, this is for Palestine.”

— Germán González (The Associated Press)

What’s next

The Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office said it would pursue a new trial against the five remaining defendants.

The takeaway

This mistrial highlights the ongoing tensions between free speech, lawful dissent, and property damage during campus protests over the Israel-Hamas conflict. The broader questions of how universities and authorities should respond to such demonstrations remain unresolved.