When the verdict is announced, if it is informal or insufficient, in not covering the issue submitted, it may be corrected by the jury under the advice of the Court, or the jury may be again sent out.
§ 619.Correction of Verdict Under Advice of Court
Title 8. Of the Trial and Judgment In Civil Actions · Chapter 4. Trial by Jury · Article 2. Conduct of the Trial · Enacted 1872 · no amendments on record · Last verified July 28, 2026
In one sentenceSection 619 lets an announced verdict that is informal or insufficient -- failing to cover the submitted issue -- be corrected by the jury under the court's advice, or sends the jury back out to continue deliberating.
Full Text of § 619
Plain-English Summary
Not every verdict comes out clean the first time. If a verdict is announced but turns out to be informal, or insufficient because it doesn't cover the issue that was submitted, § 619 gives the court two options: have the jury correct it under the court's own advice, or send the jury back out to deliberate further.
This is a narrow fix-it provision — it addresses defects in how the verdict is expressed or its completeness, not a substantive challenge to what the jury decided.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can the court do if a verdict is announced but incomplete?
The court may have the jury correct it under the court's advice, or send the jury back out to deliberate further.
What makes a verdict "insufficient" under § 619?
A verdict that doesn't cover the issue that was submitted to the jury.
Does § 619 let a court change the substance of what the jury decided?
No. It addresses correcting an informal or incomplete verdict, not overriding the jury's actual decision.
Amendment History
Enacted 1872.
Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from
the Deering's California Codes Annotated / vLex. Enacted by the California Legislature.
Last verified July 28, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: correcting informal verdict californiainsufficient verdict jury