Virginia Appeals Court Vacates Multibillion-Dollar Verdict Due to Improper Jury Instructions
The Virginia Lawyers Weekly ($) reports a Virginia appeals court vacated a multibillion-dollar verdict against Pegasystems Inc. for misappropriating trade secrets from Appian Corporation, citing improper jury instructions that unfairly shifted the burden of proof. The court's exclusion of key evidence further compromised Pegasystems' defense. This case underscores the critical importance of accurate jury instructions and fair evidence presentation, as errors in these areas can lead to significant reversals on appeal. Courts must be vigilant in ensuring these standards are strictly upheld.
George Santos Seeks Juror Screening Over Media Bias in Upcoming Fraud Trial
MSN relays an AP article on former House Rep. George Santos’s request that potential jurors in his upcoming fraud trial be questioned about their opinions of him. His legal team argues that the extensive media coverage and public opinions about Santos could influence the jury's impartiality. They seek to ensure that jurors do not hold preconceived biases against him, potentially affecting the fairness of the trial. This request highlights the challenge of ensuring an impartial jury in high-profile cases, where pretrial publicity may impact juror neutrality.
The National Center for State Courts has developed a toolkit for courts to prepare for high-profile cases before they reach the court. The robust tools to develop a high-profile case team can be found here.
Report Highlights Ethnic Disparities in Minnesota Jury Composition, Urges Action for Equitable Representation
A MinnPost report reveals significant ethnic disparities in jury composition within the metro counties of Minnesota. Data show that juries often lack representation from minority groups, leading to concerns about the fairness of trials, particularly for defendants of color. This disparity raises questions about the inclusivity of the jury selection process and its impact on the justice system.
Awareness and action to address these disparities to ensure a more equitable and representative jury selection process requires stamina. Change efforts in jury diversity go beyond changing rules that unfairly restrict diversity in jury pools. These efforts are now engaging with the socioeconomic factors that impact diverse juror participation. Forthcoming research and publications from the National Center will aid courts in addressing the myriad of factors that reduce juror participation.
NACDL Report Urges Reform of Prior Conviction Impeachment to Combat Jury Prejudice
A NACDL report calls for reforming the use of prior convictions to impeach witness credibility, arguing that it perpetuates racial bias and unfairly prejudices juries. The report highlights five key reasons for reform: the practice is more prejudicial than probative, deters valuable testimony, compounds racial disparities, treats convictions as a permanent stain on character, and increases the risk of wrongful convictions. The report recommends eliminating prior conviction impeachment or limiting it to cases involving dishonesty. Along with exclusion from jury service, the use of prior convictions to impeach witness credibility is another way formerly convicted persons are punished even after paying their debt to society.