Jury instructions can dramatically impact a criminal case because they tell the jury how they should apply the law to determine whether the facts indicate that the defendant committed a given crime.
How Face Masks Could Cause More Bias in Jury Trials During the Pandemic
Between facial expressions and body language, it’s estimated that anywhere from 70 to 93% of communication is made in a non-verbal manner. So when you block half of a person’s face with a face mask, eliminating a viewer’s ability to see frowns, smiles, grimaces and more, you can strip away much of our ability to […]
A Definition of Juror Misconduct Along With a Few Examples
The American criminal justice system is based upon the ability of a defendant to present his case before an unbiased jury of his peers. But jury misconduct may occur if a juror fails to follow the law or a judge’s instructions. While these acts could negatively affect a defendant’s right to a fair trial, the […]
San Diego Seats its First Jury Since the Start of Coronavirus Pandemic
On October 11, the San Diego County Superior Court did something it hasn’t done in over half a year. It admitted jurors through its doors. Of the 800 prospective jurors who were summoned, only 41 people showed up. That’s a far cry from the typical 400 jurors who typically report in a given day, but […]
The Uglier the Crime, The More Likely You’ll Experience Jury Bias
Juries are supposed to be impartial, but they are only human. That means that when a crime is particularly ugly it is hard for many jurors to put aside their biases no matter how hard they try. In these cases, an expert criminal defense attorney can be critical in helping you overcome jury bias. Whether you have […]
