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Thursday, December 18, 2008
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Community Service or Jury Duty
This is the issue being appealed by the Missouri Public Defender's Office in State v. Ryan Ferguson. Apparently, the trial court in Ferguson, pursuant to local court rules, allowed 13 of the possible 848 potential jurors in the case to opt out of jury service by paying $50 and performing community service. The local public defender is challenging this policy arguing that it violates the defendant's 6th Amendment right to a jury made up of a cross-section of the public. Arguably, this policy does discriminate against those who can't afford the $50. However, it remains to be seen whether the court is willing to find this wide-spread local practice unconstitutional.
Ferguson lawyer cites jury selection problem
Ferguson's appeal questions Lincoln County jury selection procedures
Ferguson seeking new trial in Heitholt murder
Ferguson lawyer cites jury selection problem
Ferguson's appeal questions Lincoln County jury selection procedures
Ferguson seeking new trial in Heitholt murder
Monday, December 15, 2008
Jury Related Stories from the Brian Nichols Murder Trial
Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard wants the law changed to allow 10-2 verdicts in death penalty cases.
Legislature Urged to Revamp Death Penalty Law
District Attorney Paul Howard called for the state Legislature Saturday to change Georgia’s death-penalty law requiring a unanimous jury decision for a defendant to be sent to Death Row.
By a 9-3 hung jury decision on Friday, Howard lost a lengthy and costly effort to have Brian Nichols sentenced to death for the March 11, 2005 Fulton County Courthouse killings.
Howard said a minority of jurors were determined that Nichols get a life sentence, whether or not he deserved to be sentenced to death.
Jurors discuss the stress of being one of the few who don't vote with the majority.
Holdout Jurors Face Pressure
Elizabeth Strong knows what it’s like to be confined in a room and look across a table at angry faces. Strong was the lone holdout juror two years ago in a horrific and emotionally charged Fulton County case in which two teens were accused of duct-taping and broiling a puppy in an oven. Her stand caused angry shouting matches over three days of deliberations and caused a mistrial after which she was roundly criticized.
The 70-year-old grandmother was thinking of that ordeal last week as the jury in the death penalty trial of courthouse killer Brian Nichols remained deadlocked 9-3.
“I feel for those jurors (in the minority); I know they are catching it,” she said. “I’m glad I’m not on this one. Ours was hard enough. But this is human beings.”
Expert discussing jury dynamics during deliberations.
2 Jurors Likely Dominating Debate, Expert Says
Of the 12 jurors who are deadlocked on whether Brian Nichols should be put to death, as few as two probably are dominating the debate, an expert says. And time may be the crucial element in whether dissenting jurors hold out or ultimately join the majority in a verdict, said juror attitude researcher John W. Clark III. The Nichols jury Thursday said it was deadlocked 9-3 on Nichols’ punishment. The same jury earlier found him guilty of murdering four people, including a judge, in his escape from a rape trial at the Fulton County courthouse.
The guilty verdicts depended more on evaluating evidence, and the jurors now are into emotional territory, Clark said.“You’ve probably got two people who are fighting — one for the nine and one for the three,” said Clark, the criminal justice program coordinator for the Atlantic region of Troy University, based in Norfolk, Va.
Legislature Urged to Revamp Death Penalty Law
District Attorney Paul Howard called for the state Legislature Saturday to change Georgia’s death-penalty law requiring a unanimous jury decision for a defendant to be sent to Death Row.
By a 9-3 hung jury decision on Friday, Howard lost a lengthy and costly effort to have Brian Nichols sentenced to death for the March 11, 2005 Fulton County Courthouse killings.
Howard said a minority of jurors were determined that Nichols get a life sentence, whether or not he deserved to be sentenced to death.
Jurors discuss the stress of being one of the few who don't vote with the majority.
Holdout Jurors Face Pressure
Elizabeth Strong knows what it’s like to be confined in a room and look across a table at angry faces. Strong was the lone holdout juror two years ago in a horrific and emotionally charged Fulton County case in which two teens were accused of duct-taping and broiling a puppy in an oven. Her stand caused angry shouting matches over three days of deliberations and caused a mistrial after which she was roundly criticized.
The 70-year-old grandmother was thinking of that ordeal last week as the jury in the death penalty trial of courthouse killer Brian Nichols remained deadlocked 9-3.
“I feel for those jurors (in the minority); I know they are catching it,” she said. “I’m glad I’m not on this one. Ours was hard enough. But this is human beings.”
Expert discussing jury dynamics during deliberations.
2 Jurors Likely Dominating Debate, Expert Says
Of the 12 jurors who are deadlocked on whether Brian Nichols should be put to death, as few as two probably are dominating the debate, an expert says. And time may be the crucial element in whether dissenting jurors hold out or ultimately join the majority in a verdict, said juror attitude researcher John W. Clark III. The Nichols jury Thursday said it was deadlocked 9-3 on Nichols’ punishment. The same jury earlier found him guilty of murdering four people, including a judge, in his escape from a rape trial at the Fulton County courthouse.
The guilty verdicts depended more on evaluating evidence, and the jurors now are into emotional territory, Clark said.“You’ve probably got two people who are fighting — one for the nine and one for the three,” said Clark, the criminal justice program coordinator for the Atlantic region of Troy University, based in Norfolk, Va.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Possible Jurors for Gov. Blagojevich Impeachment Trial
Senators Potential Jurors in Impeachment
Some state senators are minding their words about Gov. Rod Blagojevich these days, hoping to be seen as impartial should lawmakers decide to impeach the embattled chief executive.If the Illinois House votes to impeach Blagojevich in the wake of federal corruption charges, the Illinois Senate could conduct a trial, with the state's 59 state senators serving as a larger-than-usual jury. For that reason, some senators say voicing an opinion over whether Blagojevich would be impeached could taint their own jury pool
Some state senators are minding their words about Gov. Rod Blagojevich these days, hoping to be seen as impartial should lawmakers decide to impeach the embattled chief executive.If the Illinois House votes to impeach Blagojevich in the wake of federal corruption charges, the Illinois Senate could conduct a trial, with the state's 59 state senators serving as a larger-than-usual jury. For that reason, some senators say voicing an opinion over whether Blagojevich would be impeached could taint their own jury pool
Friday, December 12, 2008
Use of Jury Duty Scam for Identity Theft Grows
Police: 25 Fall Victim to Jury Scam in Eagle County
A telephone solicitation "jury duty" scam has victimized at least 25 people in Eagle County this year, authorities said.
A telephone solicitation "jury duty" scam has victimized at least 25 people in Eagle County this year, authorities said.
The victims surrendered their Social Security number to a caller who identified himself as a "jury coordinator," and the information was then used to steal their identity, according to the Eagle County Sheriff's Office.
The same or similar scam has been reported in 11 states, including Illinois and Oklahoma.
As part of the scam, a caller tells people who have answered their phone they've missed a jury duty assignment. When the victim protests the accusation, the caller asks for a Social Security number and date of birth to verify identity and to cancel an arrest warrant.
As part of the scam, a caller tells people who have answered their phone they've missed a jury duty assignment. When the victim protests the accusation, the caller asks for a Social Security number and date of birth to verify identity and to cancel an arrest warrant.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
University Receives Grant to Study Jurors and Forensic Evidence
Federal Grant to Help Law, Psychology Professors Study Jurors' Responses to Forensic Science Evidence
Three professors at Arizona State University are among the first scholars in the country to receive funding from the National Institute of Justice to research the psychology of decision-making using forensic science expert evidence. A $496,450 grant was awarded to Dawn McQuiston-Surrett , an Assistant Professor of Psychology in the Division of Social and Behavioral Sciences at ASU's West campus and to Jonathan "Jay" Koehler and Michael Saks , Professors at the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law, to study how jurors respond to fingerprints, bite marks, tool marks, handwriting, footwear impressions, tire tracks and other types of forensic identification evidence.
Three professors at Arizona State University are among the first scholars in the country to receive funding from the National Institute of Justice to research the psychology of decision-making using forensic science expert evidence. A $496,450 grant was awarded to Dawn McQuiston-Surrett , an Assistant Professor of Psychology in the Division of Social and Behavioral Sciences at ASU's West campus and to Jonathan "Jay" Koehler and Michael Saks , Professors at the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law, to study how jurors respond to fingerprints, bite marks, tool marks, handwriting, footwear impressions, tire tracks and other types of forensic identification evidence.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Recession Hits Jury Trials in New Hampshire
Jury Trials to Be Halted in One State Feeling Pinch
The Superior Court system in New Hampshire will take the unusual step of halting jury trials for a month early next year because of a widening state budget crisis.
John Broderick, the state’s chief justice, said suspending trials was essential to avoid layoffs in the judicial system, which has already cut $2.7 million from its budget.
The Superior Court system in New Hampshire will take the unusual step of halting jury trials for a month early next year because of a widening state budget crisis.
John Broderick, the state’s chief justice, said suspending trials was essential to avoid layoffs in the judicial system, which has already cut $2.7 million from its budget.
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