Juries

Anonymous Juries in Maryland

Ever since Maryland decided to implement new rules on the use of anonymous juries within the state court system, the topic has generated quite a bit of interest ( go here and here for previous discussions).  Today, Phoebe Haddon, the Dean of the University of Maryland School of Law spoke on NPR on how the new rules, which go into effect on Sep 1, will work.

Maryland Morning: Anonymous Juries

The Capital Jury Project and the Military: Law Review Article

This article discusses how one can use the findings of the Capital Jury Project in a military court-martial.

Lieutenant Colonel Eric Carpenter, An Overview of the Capital Jury Project for Military Justice Practitioners: Jury Dynamics, Juror Confusion, and Juror Responsibility, May ARMY LAWYER 2011.

Abstract:

This article will first cover the CJP findings on jury dynamics; will look at how the military’s rules that govern capital cases could impact panel dynamics; and will demonstrate that military panels in three capital courts martial have behaved consistently with the CJP findings. This article will next cover the CJP findings related to juror confusion and will demonstrate that military panels or military judges in three capital courts-martial have behaved consistently with those findings. Next, this article will discuss the concept of juror responsibility and how this concept may apply in a military context. Finally, this article will discuss a method of voir dire that defense counsel can  use in capital cases to address the issues raised by the CJP

 

 

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Juror Wants to Punch Defense Attorney

Practitioner Tip:  How can an attorney tell that he might not be connecting with the jury?  One tell- tale sign is when a juror wants to do physical harm to the attorney.  This is exactly what occurred recently in a Washington courtroom where a judge declared a mistrial after learning that one of the jurors wanted to punch the defense attorney.  Apparently, the juror grew annoyed at defense counsel's tactics that often clashed with the trial judge.

Seattle Post Intelligence: Mistrial after juror wants to punch lawyer in nose

News Stories on Roger Clemens' Jury

ABC News: Some in Clemens Jury Pool Critical of Congress

Kansas City infoZine: Jury Selection in Clemens Trial Speeds Up to a Crawl

Washington Post: Dozens of questions for Clemens jury pool

Baseball Nation: Roger Clemens Trial Jury Selection: Full Jury Questionnaire

 

American and Japanese Jury Systems: Law Review Note

Daniel Senger. Note. The Japanese quasi-jury and the American Jury: A Comparative Assessment of Juror Questionning and Sentencing Procedures and Cultural Elements in Lay Judicial Participation,  2011 U. Ill. L. Rev. 741.

Abstract:

This Note evaluates the effectiveness of juror questioning and sentencing in the context of Japan’s recently instituted quasi-jury (saiban-in) system. The author begins by chronicling the Japanese and American experience with lay judicial participation and examining the procedural details of the saiban-in system. Lay judicial participation has received a mixed response in American jury research, but Japan’s system appears to be accomplishing its goal of involving Japanese citizens in the criminal judicial process. The author attributes the system’s preliminary success to Japan’s use of juror questioning and sentencing. Drawing upon American research, the author suggests some modifications that could reduce the risks created by lay judicial participation and enhance the system’s effectiveness. If Japan’s jury structure continues to enjoy its current success, a comprehensive study of the saiban-in system may provide valuable lessons in how to improve the American jury experience by implementing effective jury questioning and sentencing procedures.

 

Jury News (Not Related to Casey Anthony)

NorthJersey.com: Juror's Internet research may result in mistrial in Mahwah pastor's sex case

Nola.com: On eve of retrial, Renee Gill Pratt's lawyer wants to interview jurors from ...

Lexington Herald Leader: Defense files motion for new trial in Doneghy murder case

Wall Street Journal: Murder Suspect Declines Jury Duty

The Guardian: Can jurors in internet-age avoid being in contempt of court?

Boston Herald: A jury of one’s peers

Judge Will Wait to Release Juror Names in Casey Anthony Trial

STLtoday.com: Judge won't release jurors' names in Casey Anthony trial

Here is the actual motion filed by the media: Motion to Release Juror Names in Casey Anthony Trial

 

Casey Anthony Defense Juror Questionnaire Request

This is a request (motion) by defense counsel for a juror questionnaire in Miss Anthony's forgery and theft case, which is separate and apart from the case involving the death of her daughter. 

Casey Anthony Defense Juror Questionnaire

h/tip Dr. SunWolf

CSI Effect and the Casey Anthony Jury

Did the "CSI" effect have an influence on the verdict in the Casey Anthony trial?

Programs such as "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," in which forensics play a key role in solving crimes in 60 minutes or less, are thought by many prosecutors and legal analysts to create unreasonable expectations for jurors deciding fates in the real world. Jurors, for the most part, have no legal training or real-life experience with the criminal justice system. They are without any frame of reference for how trials operate beyond what they see on television

Prosecutors have long argued that the "CSI" effect is real and creates unreasonable expectations in the minds of jurors. They maintain that the standards for obtaining a conviction these days have been raised because jurors now expect and want scientific evidence linking the defendant to the crime, especially in a circumstantial case...to continue reading go here.

More News About the Casey Anthony Jury

National Review Online: Do We Want the Casey Anthony Jury on Terrorist Trials?

ABC News: Casey Anthony Juror: 'Sick to Our Stomachs' Over Not Guilty Verdict

TBO.com: Online rage follows Anthony jury home to Pinellas

WESH Orlando: Report: Casey Juror 6 Will Talk For Price

CBS News: Casey Anthony Verdict: "Anything can happen" with a jury, says prosecutor

Baltimore Sun: Judge mishandled jury in Casey Anthony case

FOX News: What's Behind the Casey Anthony Jury Decision?