Bergdahl avoids jail time, Cosby trial ends in a mistrial and Flynn pleads guilty -- notable court moments of 2017

The past year saw monumental cases end in mistrials, sentencings that left many stunned and guilty pleas that ended high-profile controversies.

In November, Bowe Bergdahl was dishonorably discharged from the U.S. Army, but was spared prison time. Bergdahl had pleaded guilty to desertion and faced up to life in prison for endangering his fellow soliders. The decision was quickly criticized by President Donald Trump, who called it a "complete and total disgrace to our country and to our military."

A texting suicide case that captured headlines across the world ended with a guilty verdict in June. A judge found 20-year-old Michelle Carter guilty of involuntary manslaughter for encouraging 18-year-old Conrad Roy III to kill himself in July 2014. She was later sentenced to 15 months in jail. The groundbreaking case highlighted the dangers of technology and how words -- not just actions -- can cause death.

Several high-profile cases ended in mistrials over the past year, including Bill Cosby's sex assault trial and Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez's corruption trial. And the acquittal of illegal immigrant Juan Francisco Lopez-Sanchez in the shooting death of Kathryn Steinle in November received condemnation from several political leaders. President Trump called the verdict "disgraceful," Sen. Ted Cruz said he was "disappointed and angry" and Sarah Palin called the not guilty verdict "outrageous."

Click through the gallery above to see more notable court moments from 2017, including President Trump's decision to pardon a controversial former sheriff.