Argentine Supreme Court Province Protects Finality of Jury Verdicts
Asociación Argentine de Juicio por Jurados (Argentine Jury Trial Association) reports that the Supreme Court of the Province of Buenos Aires (SCBA) reinstated a jury verdict of acquittal, after reversal by the appellate court. In a landmark ruling, the SCBA held that the appeal of a non-guilty verdict violates double jeopardy. Previously, Argentine law permitted reversal of convictions or acquittals based on technical procedural errors. However, the high court found that where a technical procedural error is alleged, courts must first analyze whether the harm was remedied and if not, then consider whether there is a conflict between protecting the party that suffered the procedural harm and preserving a constitutional guarantee. In this case, the appellate court failed to undertake such analysis.
"Inside the Jury Room (with Shari Seidman Diamond)" on Stay Tuned with Preet
Listen to Shari Seidman Diamond, a professor at the Pritzker School of Law at Northwestern University, on the latest episode of Stay Tuned with Preet (Preet Bharara is the former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York). Professor Diamond discusses topics such as whether there is a prototype juror for the prosecution and the defense, the power of audio recordings as evidence, and the organization of jury instructions.
Inside the mind of a Juror
In this video, Fox 10 Phoenix's Brian Webb spoke with a local trial attorney and a jury consultant about what goes through jurors' minds and how they reach their verdict.
How to Better Assess Juror Bias in High-Profile Cases
Richard Gabriel and Michelle Rey LaRocca, in an article for Law360.com, discuss the challenges of finding jurors in today’s society that are truly “impartial.” In an era of the 24/7 news cycle, information about high-profile cases is readily available with the click of a finger or the opening of an app. Gabriel and Rey LaRocca point out that given this backdrop, a more thoughtful assessment of juror bias is warranted. They assert that efforts to “prehabilitate” jurors (whereby potential jurors are asked conditional questions that encourage jurors to respond in the correct way) or to rehabilitate jurors (asking if they can set aside an expressed bias) actually discourage jurors from vocalizing their biases. As such, the authors make several recommendations to support the seating of an impartial jury, like outlining specific concerns; using efficient, streamlined questionnaires designed to address those concerns; setting time limits on voir dire based on the nature of the case and the quality of juror responses, rather than setting an arbitrary time limit; and refraining from using the word “bias” when asking jurors about their opinions and views.
Register Today! "Using Behavioral Science to (Re)Design Your Jury Communications to Improve Response and Appearance Rates"
Join us for an insightful webinar on redesigning jury summons and other communications with prospective jurors through the lens of behavioral science Shannon McAuliffe, Associate Managing Director at ideas42, will guide us through behavioral science 101 and innovative strategies that courts can implement to improve response and appearance rates by prospective jurors. The session will explore:
- The principles of behavioral science and how they apply to jury communications
- Real-world examples of redesigned communications that have led to higher engagement
- Practical tips for crafting more effective messages to prospective jurors
As an organization dedicated to applying behavioral science to solve complex social problems, ideas42 has been at the forefront of efforts to enhance court processes. Shannon McAuliffe will share valuable insights from her experience working with courts across the country on defendant appearance rates to implement these evidence-based approaches in the juror context. Register for the webinar today. For more information, contact Paula Hannaford-Agor.