Inadmissible evidence and juror verdicts.

Social media makes it easier than ever to access information and opinions associated with criminal proceedings and viewing or discussing these pre-trial could reduce juror impartiality. This study explored whether viewing social media comments influenced mock juror verdicts. Seventy-two participants formed 12 six-person ‘mock juries'. All participants received information regarding a murder trial. Nine groups were exposed to social media comments, manipulated to be negative, positive or neutral towards the defendant. The remaining three groups only received trial information (control condition). Results showed that prior to group discussion, exposure to negatively-biased comments significantly increased the number of guilty verdicts, however these effects disappeared after group discussion. Therefore, although jurors may be unable to remain impartial before a trial, jury discussion can remove these prejudices, supporting previous group research. Further research is suggested where participants interact actively with social media, rather than passively viewing comments.

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BIAS IN THE COURTROOM: RACE AND SEX EFFECTS OF ATTORNEYS ON JUROR VERDICTS

Social Behavior and Personality An International Journal ◽

10.2224/sbp.1981.9.1.81 ◽

1981 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 81-87 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

David L. Cohen ◽

John L. Peterson

Keyword(s):

Interaction Effect ◽

Jury Trial ◽

Future Research ◽

Sex Effects ◽

Main Effect ◽

Mock Jury ◽

Juror Verdicts

The evidence on the effects of a defendant's race and sex on juror verdicts prompted the current study on the influence of the attorney's race and sex on juridical decisions. In a mock jury trial, 127 subjects evaluated the guilt or innocence of a defendant accused of murder. The attorney's race (black or white) and sex (male or female) were systematically varied. Results indicated a significant main effect for the influence of the race of the attorney on jurors' verdicts. It was revealed that defendants represented by black attorneys are more likely to be found guilty than defendants represented by white attorneys. The findings, however, failed to reveal a significant main effect for attorney sex or a significant sex by race interaction effect on jurors' perceptions of the defendant's guilt. It was concluded that future research should consider the effects of the race of attorneys on juror verdicts.

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Civil Procedure: Trial Practice: Introduction of Inadmissible Evidence to Cure Improper Argument by Counsel

Michigan Law Review ◽

10.2307/1286571 ◽

1963 ◽

Vol 61 (7) ◽

pp. 1356

Author(s):

Arthur M. Sherwood

Keyword(s):

Civil Procedure ◽

Inadmissible Evidence

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Inducing jurors to disregard inadmissible evidence: A legal explanation does not help.

Law and Human Behavior ◽

10.1007/bf01499140 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 19 (4) ◽

pp. 407-424 ◽

Cited By ~ 33

Author(s):

Kerri L. Pickel

Keyword(s):

Inadmissible Evidence

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Study of the case law of the European Court of Human Rights in criminal law matters

Glasnik Advokatske komore Vojvodine ◽

10.5937/gakv0712371g ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 79 (9) ◽

pp. 371-395

Author(s):

Momčilo Grubač

Keyword(s):

Human Rights ◽

Case Law ◽

Procedural Law ◽

Inadmissible Evidence ◽

European Court ◽

Ne Bis In Idem ◽

Fundamental Freedoms ◽

Protection Of Human Rights ◽

Case Files ◽

The Right

This study includes certain number of decisions of the European Court of Human Rights that relate to the criminal procedural matters, primarily those constituting the right to a fair trial provided in Article 6 of the Convention for Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. These decisions were analyzed and interpreted in order to establish the practice of the Court in these procedural matters and to enable us to evaluate whether domestic criminal procedural law and its application are in line with this practice. The author dealt with the issues of prohibition to institute legal action twice for the same cause of action (ne bis in idem), immunities and privileges, right to court access, exclusion of inadmissible evidence from the criminal case files, right to the impartial court and right of defense to call and interrogate witnesses.

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