Document Type
Article
Abstract
This Article argues that in light of the information age, the natures of jurors have changed. Now, information is readily accessible, easily digestible, and heavily relied upon. Modern jurors are equipped with the internet on many electronic gadgets, and there is no longer a waiting period to access information; it is all at their fingertips (i.e., Google, Bing, Yahoo, smart phones and Wikipedia). Jurors seek information about a defendant, a defective product forming the basis of a lawsuit, or any other information pertaining to the trial they are asked to decide. We are seeing more and more jury misconduct due to the use of the ubiquitous internet, which crops up in the trial process on a regular basis. What compounds the problem even more is that an increased number of younger individuals are being selected to serve as jurors. Consequently, the younger the jury, the more likely a juror will be technologically proficient and dependent on the technology.
Part I of this Article discusses the jury process and information delivery. Part II examines the effect of the explosion of social media networks on juries. Part III analyzes the law regarding jury misconduct. Part IV explores ways to ameliorate the inevitable encroachment of social media and the internet on juries. This Article concludes by providing recommendations to combat the problem of maintaining an impartial jury.
Recommended Citation
Ahunanya Anga,
Jury Misconduct: Can Courts Enforce a Social Media and Internet Free Process? We "Tweet," Not,
18 J. Tech. L. & Pol'y
(2013).
Available at: https://scholarship.law.ufl.edu/jtlp/vol18/iss2/5