Jury Experiences Archive

  • Every year we identify the top 10 articles chosen by our readers as most interesting in the calendar year. This year these articles are our top ten. Have you missed any of them? This is your chance to catch up! Does Deposition Video Camera Angle Affect Witness Credibility? By Chris […]

    Top 10 Most Accessed Articles of 2015

    by The TJE Editorial Staff Every year we identify the top 10 articles chosen by our readers as most interesting in the calendar year. This year these articles are our top ten. Have you missed any of them? This is your chance to catch up! Does Deposition Video Camera Angle Affect Witness Credibility? By Chris […]

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  • One of the biggest challenges lawyers face is witness examination. You know your job, you have done the preparation and yet, somehow, at some point, your witness seems to transform right in front of your eyes. You know the story. Witness “X” has presented in your office as thoughtful, credible, […]

    Understanding the Traumatized Witness

    by Lorie Hood, M.S. One of the biggest challenges lawyers face is witness examination. You know your job, you have done the preparation and yet, somehow, at some point, your witness seems to transform right in front of your eyes. You know the story. Witness “X” has presented in your office as thoughtful, credible, […]

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  • The problem of jurors researching on the internet used to be referred to as the "Google Mistrial" but now has become ubiquitous. This article describes the development of the Juror Internet Research Scale (JIRS) which is used to identify those jurors who will insist on doing research on their own despite judicial instructions to the contrary. The complete measure is presented here with scoring instructions.

    The Juror Internet Research Scale (JIRS): Identifying the Jurors Who Won’t Stay Offline

    by Alexis Knutson, M.A. and Edie Greene, Ph.D. and Robert Durham, Ph.D. The problem of jurors researching on the internet used to be referred to as the "Google Mistrial" but now has become ubiquitous. This article describes the development of the Juror Internet Research Scale (JIRS) which is used to identify those jurors who will insist on doing research on their own despite judicial instructions to the contrary. The complete measure is presented here with scoring instructions.

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  • We've been discussing how to stop (or at least minimize) the number of jurors doing internet research while they are serving as jurors. Here, the idea of a "juror pledge" is presented as a way to educate jurors about why not doing research on their own is important and to, hopefully, decrease the incidence of "googling jurors".  In this article, a summary of a number of conversations over the years is presented and strategies in use are described. Language is provided for a number of juror pledges being used currently with hope this strategy will take root.

    Jurors Googling & Blogging – Can a Juror Pledge Stop Them?

    by Diane Wiley We've been discussing how to stop (or at least minimize) the number of jurors doing internet research while they are serving as jurors. Here, the idea of a "juror pledge" is presented as a way to educate jurors about why not doing research on their own is important and to, hopefully, decrease the incidence of "googling jurors". In this article, a summary of a number of conversations over the years is presented and strategies in use are described. Language is provided for a number of juror pledges being used currently with hope this strategy will take root.

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  • Do different camera angles during deposition affect how observers will assess the credibility of the witness? Take a look at this research!

    Does Deposition Video Camera Angle Affect Witness Credibility?

    by Chris Dominic, MA and Jeffrey W. Jarman, Ph.D. and Jonathan M. Lytle, Ph.D. Do different camera angles during deposition affect how observers will assess the credibility of the witness? Take a look at this research!

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  • Is plain language an important factor to consider in a jury charge? Yes. Here's a look at the latest knowledge.

    Jury Instructions: Work In Progress

    by Steven E. Perkel, DSW, LCSW and Benjamin Perkel Is plain language an important factor to consider in a jury charge? Yes. Here's a look at the latest knowledge.

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  • Stop asking jurors to do the impossible!

    Why Do We Ask Jurors To Promise That They Will Do the Impossible?

    by Susan Macpherson Stop asking jurors to do the impossible!

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  • All potential jurors have biases and prejudices. Individual bias stems from all we experience, and shapes the perceptions we, as jurors, have of evidence. These perceptions can certainly influence final jury verdicts.[1] Identifying juror bias is critical. Yet, “the detection of juror bias is a serious challenge in contemporary jury […]

    Strategies for More Effective Voir Dire

    by Ronald J. Matlon, Ph.D. All potential jurors have biases and prejudices. Individual bias stems from all we experience, and shapes the perceptions we, as jurors, have of evidence. These perceptions can certainly influence final jury verdicts.[1] Identifying juror bias is critical. Yet, “the detection of juror bias is a serious challenge in contemporary jury […]

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  • This scenario happens at some point in nearly every voir dire. First, a juror reveals a bias for or against one of the parties. Juror: I just really don’t trust big companies. What with all the media stories and all the scandals, well, I just think that they are in […]

    Getting Beyond “Can You Be Fair?”: Framing Your Cause Questions

    by Ken Broda-Bahm, Ph.D. This scenario happens at some point in nearly every voir dire. First, a juror reveals a bias for or against one of the parties. Juror: I just really don’t trust big companies. What with all the media stories and all the scandals, well, I just think that they are in […]

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  • Why focus groups? Properly conducted focus groups are extremely useful in getting reactions to a wide array of aspects of the case. While it is not prudent to expect that the “verdict” of a small group research project will be repeated at trial, it is very likely that the same […]

    The “Why” and “How” of Focus Group Research

    by Douglas Keene, Ph.D. Why focus groups? Properly conducted focus groups are extremely useful in getting reactions to a wide array of aspects of the case. While it is not prudent to expect that the “verdict” of a small group research project will be repeated at trial, it is very likely that the same […]

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