Juries

Fellow Jury Pool Member Fails to Spot Joe Biden Despite Presence of Secret Service Agents

You might think the Secret Service agents would have been a giveaway, let alone the phalanx of staff and extra security that poured in through a side door at the New Castle County Courthouse during a break. But at least one member of a Delaware jury pool failed to spot…

Jan 24, 2011 10:17 PM CST

Sal the Cat’s Jury Duty Was Yesteryear’s News

Corrected: The story was bound to generate a lot of buzz: Boston’s jury commissioner had refused to release Sal the cat from jury duty after his owners sought to disqualify him on the ground he cannot speak English. According to reports by 7NewsWHDH.com and MyFoxBoston.com, Sal’s owners, Guy and Anna…

Jan 21, 2011 9:20 PM CST

Prosecutors in One Texas County Will Use Courtroom iPads to Search Potential Jurors on Facebook

District Attorney Armando Villalobos of Cameron County, Texas, says he doesn’t want defense lawyers to be ahead of prosecutors during jury selection. Toward that end, prosecutors in his county will use iPads to check out the Facebook profiles of potential jurors, the Brownsville Herald reports. “I would like my attorneys…

Jan 18, 2011 12:35 PM CST

Juror on Hot Seat, Accused of Web-Surfing; Claimed Research May Cause Capital Murder Case Mistrial

A mistrial may have to be declared in a Pennsylvania capital murder case over a juror’s reported Web-surfing. The Luzerne County panel’s foreman blew the whistle on fellow juror Gretchen Black today, when she returned to court this morning after the first day of deliberations allegedly armed with Internet information…

Jan 14, 2011 7:22 PM CST

Despite DNA Evidence & Confession, Jury Acquits ‘Nude Housekeeper’ in Paralegal’s Slaying

Hired via an Internet service to clean a New York paralegal’s home in the nude, Thomas Cordero was linked by DNA evidence to the man’s 2001 slaying. But even though he also confessed to the fatal stabbing of John Conley, then 50, Cordero was acquitted of murder today by a…

Jan 14, 2011 1:31 AM CST

Ex-Corrections Officers’ Confab re Defendant’s Record Requires Jury Selection Do-Over

A Washington state court will be trying again with a new jury pool on Monday, after an initial effort to select a panel to hear a first-degree murder trial was tainted by a conversation today between two former Department of Corrections officers. As some other prospective jurors overheard, the two…

Jan 6, 2011 5:56 PM CST

Jurors in Conn. Triple Murder Trial Report Nightmares, Sudden Violent Images

Nighttime is difficult for the jurors who convicted Steven Hayes this November in a Connecticut home invasion and triple murder. Joel Zemke, 62, has trouble falling asleep, the New York Times reports. Maico Cardona, 31, has nightmares about a little girl tied to a bed crying for help. Before going…

Jan 3, 2011 4:18 PM CST

Tweeting from Jury Duty, Steve Martin Judges Defense Lawyer Guilty

At the beginning of jury selection, it looked as if comedian Steve Martin had prejudged the case. “REPORT FROM JURY DUTY: defendant looks like a murderer,” he tweeted on Monday. “GUILTY. Waiting for opening remarks.” It turned out Martin had prejudged the wrong person. Later he tweeted, “REPORT FROM JURY…

Dec 23, 2010 1:29 PM CST

Potential Jury Nullifies Law Before Even Being Seated, Eliminating Drug Trial

An accused drug-dealer caught a break in court last week, when a group of potential jurors in Montana revolted against an unpopular marijuana law. No way could they convict anybody of a crime for having a couple of buds of marijuana–less than a fifth of an ounce, they told the…

Dec 20, 2010 8:02 PM CST

Acquitted in ‘96, Man Is Convicted of Murder Today in UK, Where Double Jeopardy No Longer Applies

In 1996, when Mark Weston was tried for the murder of a 30-year-old mother who was attacked while walking the family dog, he was acquitted in 50 minutes. Afterward, the jury foreman wrote to him wishing him well and urging him to seek compensation due to the lack of evidence.…

Dec 13, 2010 8:01 PM CST

At Least 90 Verdicts Challenged Because of Jurors’ Alleged Internet Misconduct

Jurors’ Internet research, blog comments and tweets have led to dozens of mistrials, appeals and overturned verdicts. Reuters Legal checked Westlaw for challenges related to jurors’ Internet conduct and found 90 verdicts called into question since 1999. More than half the cases are from the last two years. In 28…

Dec 9, 2010 1:39 PM CST

Lawyer Claims Trial Tweets Created Circus Atmosphere in Conn. Triple Murder Case

A lawyer for a defendant sentenced to death in a Connecticut home invasion and triple murder claims Twitter messages about the trial created a circus atmosphere that affected the verdict. The allegation, made in court papers, sets out an argument likely to be raised in appeals on behalf of the…

Dec 3, 2010 11:30 AM CST

Veterans Outraged Over Decision Downplaying Influence of Purple Heart Lie

Veterans are outraged by a federal appeals court decision upholding a conviction for solicitation to commit murder, even though the chief prosecution witness falsely claimed on the witness stand that he had a Purple Heart. The witness, Elven Swisher, wore a replica of the medal as he testified and said…

Dec 2, 2010 12:00 PM CST

It’s a Boy! Manhattan Lawyer Gets Trial Reprieve for Grandson’s Bris

A Manhattan lawyer who sought a trial delay for his grandson’s circumcision ceremony is getting the time off, thanks to a decision by U.S. District Judge Kimba Wood. Lawyer Bennett Epstein requested time off for the bris in an unusual letter (PDF) filed with the court, the Wall Street Journal…

Nov 30, 2010 2:15 PM CST

When Jurors are Wary of Lawyers, It’s Prudent to Throttle Down

Barbara Swanson looked numb. “What’s the matter?” I said. “Bad verdict?” “That’s the understatement of the day,” she said. “Lost a case I should have won.” “We’ve all done that,” said Angus. “Oh, I know it,” said Barbara. “Those are the cases that are supposed to teach you something. But…

Nov 24, 2010 11:19 PM CST