There is a good chance that the Drew Peterson murder trial will end in mistrial. The prosecutor had been instructed by the judge that references to whether the victim considered or obtained a protection from abuse order against the defendant were inadmissible.

Yesterday the prosecutor asked a witness whether the victim sought a protection order (apparently for the third time in the trial). The judge ordered that the jury leave the court room and lashed out against the prosecutor.

In rare instances a mistrial may be declared with prejudice, meaning that the State is barred from retrying the defendant. Repeatedly ignoring a pretrial ruling could very well place this matter on the threshold of a mistrial with prejudice.

If the case continues, Peterson has an argument for reversible error.