Judge declares mistrial indeclares mistrial in 2025 Los Angeles wildfire arson case

A federal judge declared a mistrial on Friday, June 26, 2026, in Los Angeles after a jury deadlocked in the arson trial of a Florida man accused of sparking the deadly 2025 Palisades Fire.

The fire ravaged Los Angeles and killed a dozen people in early 2025, making it one of the costliest disasters in US history.

This outcome matters because it leaves the legal accountability for the deaths unresolved, leaving the victim's families without a final verdict.