Juries

Media Files Motion to Obtain Names of Edwards' Jurors

Several media outlets have filed a motion to obtain the names of the jurors who are deciding the fate of former senator and presidential candidate John Edwards.  According to the clerk of the court for the Middle District of North Carolina, the identities of the jurors can't be released absent permission from U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Eagles who is hearing the Edwards' case.  To see the motion filed by the media go here.

Hutaree MilitiaTrial to Use Anonymous Juries

Unfortunately, it has become rather standard procedure to use anonymous juries in terrorism trials.  Interestingly, the rational provided by the trial judge in the Hutaree militia trial for using an anonymous jury did not follow the usual script.   Here, the trial judge said that juror privacy, not juror safety, was the reason for anonymous jurors. 

Detroit Free Press: Secrecy ordered for jurors in Hutaree militia trial

The jurors who hear the case will remain anonymous, following an order by U.S. District Judge Victoria Roberts, who expressed concerns about jurors' privacy rights.

"These jurors will be thrust into the eye of a storm simply because they have honored our request to perform this high civic duty," Roberts wrote in her order Friday. "The court wants to be clear that this decision ... is not based at all on the belief that defendants present a danger to potential jurors."

Although anonymous juries first started in the late 1970s to ensure juror safety, they are used increasingly to safeguard juror privacy.

Jury Duty and Privacy Concerns

This article discusses the privacy concerns that can arise for jurors when they sit on high-profile trials like Casey Anthony.

LA Times: Casey Anthony case casts harsh light on jurors' lack of privacy

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Names of Casey Anthony Jurors Revealed

USA Today: Casey Anthony jury included medical workers, teachers

Huffington Post: Casey Anthony Jurors' Names Made Public

Jurors to be Anonymous in Trial of Underwear Bomber

Yahoo: 'Underwear bomber' trial jurors granted anonymity

The US judge overseeing the upcoming trial of a Nigerian man accused of trying to blow up a packed transatlantic airliner laid out strict rules Friday to protect the identities of jurors.

Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, 24, was arrested after the botched Christmas Day 2009 plot attributed to Al-Qaeda, in which explosives allegedly stitched into his underwear failed to detonate aboard a Northwest Airlines flight from Amsterdam as it prepared to land in Detroit.

Passengers and crew were able to restrain Abdulmutallab and put out the small fire aboard the flight, which was carrying 279 passengers and 11 crew.

The foiled bombing triggered global alarm, leading the United States to adopt stringent new screening and security measures at airports worldwide.

Judge Nancy Edmunds cited "intense media and public interest" in laying out rules governing conduct of observers at the trial. Any violations could lead to contempt of court or obstruction of justice charges, she said.

Some 250 prospective jurors are set to fill out questionnaires on Wednesday ahead of jury selection on October 4, with opening statements expected one week later.

Edmunds banned any contact with prospective jurors and the 16 people ultimately chosen to hear the case and laid out safeguards to protect their anonymity...to continue reading go here.

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

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

 

Maryland Okays Anonymous Juries

Baltimore Sun: Trial by anonymous jury

Washington Post (Blog): Md. court votes to allow anonymous juries

ABC 2 News: Md. Court of Appeals vote allows anonymous juries

 

Anonymous Juries in Maryland

Presently, Maryland is considering a proposed rule to address the use of anonymous juries in its trial courts.  In addition to allowing anonymous juries to ensure juror safety, the proposed rule would allow them in “high profile cases where strong public opinions about a pending case is evident...” Maryland's proposed rule reflects the growing trend by courts (see for example the Barry Bonds and Blagojevich trials) to opt for anonymous juries even when juror safety is not an issue. Many judges see anonymous juries as a way to maintain juror privacy.

h/tip Judge Dennis Sweeney 

Jurors in Barry Bonds Case to be Anonymous (at least until the end of trial)

As predicted, the trial judge for the Barry Bonds case has just announced that she will release redacted juror questionnaires, but withhold juror names until after trial.  The judge's well-written opinion on disclosing juror questionnaires and names can be found here.  Since the trial judge plans to release the names of the jurors after the trial, she does not consider this case one in which anonymous jurors are used.  'Deferred disclosure' is the term she uses to describe the delayed release of juror names.

San Jose Mercury News: Jurors' names under wraps for Barry Bonds perjury trial

Law.com: For BondsTrial, Illston Will Shield Juror Names‎
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NY Times: Jurors' Names to Be Kept Secret in Bonds Case