Juries

Jurors acquit Kyle Rittenhouse, siding with his self-defense claim

Jurors in Kenosha, Wisconsin, acquitted 18-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse of all charges Friday in the shootings of three men, two of them fatally, during racial justice demonstrations in August 2020.

Nov 19, 2021 1:48 PM CST

Do face coverings help or hinder defendants?

Before her fall from grace, Elizabeth Holmes’ ability to court and charm establishment luminaries fueled her meteoric rise as head of Silicon Valley blood-testing company Theranos. In her ongoing criminal fraud trial, she might be hoping she can work the same magic on jurors. But could wearing a mask weaken her defense and make her less likable in the eyes of the jury?

Nov 16, 2021 8:56 AM CST

In ‘rocky prosecution’ of Kyle Rittenhouse, assistant DA angers judge, tackles difficult case

A prosecutor in the trial of Kyle Rittenhouse angered the judge Wednesday when he referred to the teenager’s silence after his arrest and then asked questions related to a video in which Rittenhouse discussed wanting to shoot shoplifters.

Nov 12, 2021 10:24 AM CST

Discover the man behind ‘12 Angry Men’ and the real-life case that inspired him

Whenever the ABA Journal has conducted a survey to find the best legal movies or the best legal plays, 12 Angry Men has made the list. But the path to becoming a classic was not a simple one, and the man behind the script was not a simple man.

Nov 10, 2021 8:58 AM CST

Did pandemic make jurors more skeptical of scientific evidence? Some see a change

Jurors appear more skeptical of scientific and medical testimony following the COVID-19 pandemic, according to some lawyers and experts interviewed by Law.com.

Oct 26, 2021 1:18 PM CDT

Texas clerk’s ‘idiosyncratic system’ of choosing jury panels could lead to thousands of overturned verdicts

A district clerk in Brazoria County, Texas, divided up potential jurors by region and race to assemble jury venires, an “idiosyncratic system” that could potentially lead to thousands of over overturned verdicts.

Oct 12, 2021 1:21 PM CDT

As more courts use facility dogs, some defense lawyers object

In a justice system that can sometimes appear hostile, facility dogs can comfort child witnesses as they talk about the most traumatic experiences of their lives. Because the dogs lie at children’s feet in the witness box, jurors may never see them. But according to some defense lawyers, when judges say witnesses will be assisted by canines, that makes them appear more sympathetic or believable, violating the due process rights of their clients.

Oct 1, 2021 2:50 AM CDT

Weekly Briefs: Texas abortion clinics return to SCOTUS; law prof known for critical race theory work wins award

Texas abortion clinics seek SCOTUS review Abortion providers in Texas asked the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday to consider whether their lawsuit challenging the state’s restrictive law can go forward. The Supreme Court had refused to block the law—which bans most abortions at about six weeks—in a Sept. 1 decision.…

Sep 24, 2021 3:50 PM CDT

Arizona eliminates peremptory challenges in jury selection

There will soon be a big change for jury selection in Arizona. The Arizona Supreme Court published a rule modification Friday ending the use of peremptory challenges in civil and criminal cases. It will be implemented Jan. 1.

Aug 30, 2021 3:46 PM CDT

Ineffective counsel at two levels entitles death row inmate to new sentencing, 4th Circuit says

A federal appeals court has ruled that a death row inmate in South Carolina is entitled to a new sentencing hearing because of failures by his trial counsel and appellate counsel.

Aug 24, 2021 11:55 AM CDT

Top Massachusetts court rules potential jurors can’t be removed based on sexual orientation

Lawyers can’t exclude potential jurors during voir dire based on sexual orientation, the top court in Massachusetts ruled on Monday.

Aug 17, 2021 10:15 AM CDT

The Chauvin conviction shows why diverse juries matter

When it comes to convicting police officers, clear and convincing evidence is only half the battle. But evidence—visual, circumstantial, forensic—has historically been irrelevant when a police officer is on trial, with law enforcement often accorded the benefit of the doubt and acquitted.

Aug 1, 2021 2:20 AM CDT

Unvaccinated lawyer has to wear mask at client’s trial after top state court refuses to intervene

A criminal defense lawyer in Augusta, Maine, has to wear a mask in his client’s jury trial this week after the state’s top court refused to consider his claim that the face covering would prejudice jurors.

Jul 20, 2021 1:08 PM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Internet research is costly for juror; bar dues claim partly resurrected

Federal juror’s internet research cost over $11K A federal judge in New Jersey has held a juror in contempt and fined him more than $11,000 for conducting internet research on a case, despite warnings against such conduct. U.S. District Judge Robert Kugler of the District of New Jersey had declared…

Jun 30, 2021 4:35 PM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Crowell merger announced; judge reverses himself on juror vaccinations

Crowell & Moring will merge with IP firm Crowell & Moring is merging with Chicago-based Brinks Gilson & Lione, a 61-lawyer intellectual property law firm. Crowell will have more than 625 lawyers after the merger, with new offices in Chicago and Indianapolis. Crowell has also begun a process with the…

Jun 24, 2021 4:37 PM CDT