Juries

Why Jury Duty Matters: New Book

Andrew Ferguson, an assistant professor at the David A. Clarke School of Law at the University of District Columbia, has written a new book entitled Why Jury Duty Matters: A Citizen's Guide to  Constitutional Action.  Unlike many books written on the jury, this one is directed to the actual juror or prospective juror.  According to the author, the book is written to help explain to jurors their role in the constitutional process.  In a way this book serves as a pep talk to those selected to serve as jurors.  The book examines the broader implications of jury service beyond just finding someone guilty or not guilty. To watch a video of the author discussing his book go here.  

Disqualification for Bias: New Book

Interested in learning more about juror bias?  If so, pick up a copy of Professor John Tarrant's new book Disqualification for Bias. Although Prof. Tarrant's target audience is Australia and other Commonwealth countries, many of the issues he discusses, such as juror bias, have universal application and thus would be of interest to those in the United States. Below is a brief a description of the book and the table of contents.

This book examines the disqualification principle and the test that courts apply in different contexts. The application of the principle is examined in the context of judges, jurors, administrative decision-makers, inquiries, local government, sporting clubs, political decisions, international tribunals and military tribunals.

Disqualification for Bias also examines the remedies available where a person alleges that a decision-maker should be disqualified. Many practical issues are also examined including procedural issues.

A detailed examination of relevant case law and statutes from a number of jurisdictions including Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Canada is also included.

CONTENTS

The Disqualification Principle

Early History and Modern Developments

Test for Bias

Disqualifying Factors

Exceptions to the Disqualification Principle

Application of the Disqualification Principle

Practical Issues

Remedies

Future Developments and Conclusion

New Book by Prof. Carol Anderson: Inside Juror's Minds

Professor Carol Anderson from Wake Forest Law School has a new book out entitled Inside Juror's Minds: The Hierarchy of Juror Decision Making. 

Here is a brief description of the book.

Published by the National Institute for Trial Advocacy (NITA) in conjunction with Lexis Nexis, the book explores  both the conscious and subconscious influences on juror decision-making.

Anderson argues that jurors often rely on the same cognitive tools in court that they apply to their own everyday decision-making.  Their decisions are often influenced by intuition, emotion, personal biases, and life experiences, which can cause jurors to form unconscious hierarchies for weighing the evidence.  Readers can learn about the most common thinking errors that skew jurors’ perceptions.  Learning to recognize these thinking errors can provide advocates with a powerful tool for influencing juror opinions.

Anderson is a national trial advocacy expert, and has been recognized for the work in the classroom as well. She has been recognized for her distinguished teaching by both the American Association for Justice (AAJ) and by the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers, and is the director of the Wake Forest Trial Practice and the Litigation Clinic. Anderson has authored two previous books “Anderson on Advocacy” (2003) and “North Carolina Trial Practice” (1996).

New Publication on Juror Decision-Making

Brad Bradshaw has a new book on juror decision-making entitled, The Science of Persuasion: A Litigators Guide to Juror Decision-Making.

Here is a brief description of the book:

This new book is your thorough guide to the way jurors make decisions, and how you can use that knowledge to convince them that your story of a case is the correct version. The author--who holds a Ph.D in psychology, for which he researched persuasion and juror decision-making--walks you though every stage of the trial and offers comprehensive information on what jurors are thinking when, and how to influence them in the most effective ways.

Here is a brief description of the author

Gregory (Brad) Bradshaw is the president of Bradshaw Litigation Consulting, LLC. He has a Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Kentucky where his research included persuasion and juror decision-making. Dr. Bradshaw is a minimalist, a cancer survivor, and a marathon runner, who has been reducing cases to their simplest terms since 2001. Nothing is more important to him than his friends and family.