Vijilent Guest Blog ̶ Internet Research on Potential Jurors: The Next Level
Internet Research on Potential Jurors: The Next Level
Jeffrey Frederick, Ph.D.
While once a rarity, internet research on potential jurors in advance of trial has become fairly commonplace. Research companies, like Vijilent, have brought to bear sophisticated tools to assist attorneys in their efforts to understand the potential jurors they face. This is fortunate, since research has shown that such research companies are far superior to attorneys and law firms in finding social media accounts of potential jurors. While establishing and analyzing jurors’ social media pages is a necessary and important first step, does that give us the most complete picture of who our jurors are? Is this their overall juror internet footprint?
And the answer is… no. READ MORE
For more information on voir dire and jury selection, see Mastering Voir Dire and Jury Selection: Gain an Edge in Questioning and Selecting Your Jury, Fourth Edition (2018). Also, check out my companion book on supplemental juror questionnaires, Mastering Voir Dire and Jury Selection: Supplemental Juror Questionnaires (2018).
Recent media comments
Tom Hals (Wilmington) Analysis: Chauvin jurors facing 'through the roof’ stress as deliberations begin, Reuters (April 19, 2021)
Tom Hals (Wilmington) Analysis: Should Derek Chauvin testify in his own defense in Floyd murder trial?, Reuters (April 14, 2021)
Tom Hals (Wilmington) Analysis: Police and bystander accounts bolster Chauvin prosecution, Reuters (April 12, 2021)
Check out Dr. Frederick’s comments on mask and social distancing effects in the Derek Chauvin trial:
ABC News’ Kenneth Moton details what safety protocols will be in place during the first major in-person U.S. criminal trial of the pandemic. https://abcnews.go.com/US/video/covid-19-protocols-set-derek-chauvin-trial-76716395 Video: COVID-19 protocols set for Derek Chauvin trial (March 26,2021)
Available podcasts
The November 6, 2019 podcast from the ABA Journal’s Modern Law Library series features a discussion of voir dire and jury selection with Dr. Frederick in which he addresses tips for group voir dire, nonverbal communication in jury selection, and jurors and the internet, among other topics. Check out this 40-minute podcast on the ABA Journal’s website: http://www.abajournal.com/books/article/MLL-podcast-episode-110.
On January 25, 2019, Dr. Frederick presented a CLE program entitled “Mastering Voir Dire and Jury Selection” at the ABA Midyear Meeting at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas. Legal Talk Network conducted a short, 10-minute interview in conjunction with this program. You can listen to this podcast at: https://legaltalknetwork.com/podcasts/special-reports/2019/01/aba-midyear-meeting-2019-mastering-voir-dire-and-jury-selection/.
Dr. Frederick presented a 60-minute program based on his book, Mastering Voir Dire and Jury Selection: Gain an Edge in Questioning and Selecting Your Jury, for the ABA Solo Small Firm and General Practice Division’s November 21, 2018 session of Hot Off the Press telephone conference/podcast. Check it out at the Hot Off the Press podcast library at: Mastering Voir Dire and Jury Selection (americanbar.org)