Pretrial Publicity’s Effects on Jurors’ and Judges’ Decisions
Document Type
Book Chapter
Publication Date
2024
Keywords
juror decision-making, pretrial publicity, jury deliberation, juror bias, voir dire
Abstract
This chapter will discuss the psychological processes by which pretrial publicity (PTP) can affect jurors’ and judges’ decisions. Pretrial publicity includes all media coverage (traditional and social media) of cases making their way to trial. Although many jurors believe they can ignore what they have read or heard about the case, and many judges believe they can effectively rehabilitate jurors exposed to PTP, this is typically not the case. These efforts and their effectiveness are examined in detail. Both positive and negative PTP can influence decisions in a variety of trial types (including civil and criminal). Jurors tend to examine this information through lenses such as predecisional influences that tend to focus on a particular side. Research also suggests they employ long-established narratives such as the story model in these situations. The chapter will synthesize this body of research and offer future directions and implications for the legal field.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009119375.007
Citation / Publisher Attribution
Pretrial Publicity’s Effects on Jurors’ and Judges’ Decisions, in M.K. Miller, L.A. Yelderman, M.T. Huss & J.A. Cantone (Eds.), The Cambridge Handbook of Psychology and Legal Decision-Making, Cambridge University Press, p. 103-116
Scholar Commons Citation
Ruva, Christine L., "Pretrial Publicity’s Effects on Jurors’ and Judges’ Decisions" (2024). Psychology Sarasota Manatee Campus Faculty Publications. 21.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/psy_facpub_sm/21
Was this content written or created while at USF?
Yes
