The Impact of Juror Biases in Capital Murder Trials: 1850-1900

• In Event: Deliberating Death: Inside the Capital Jury Box

Abstract

The selection of a jury is an extremely important aspect of a capital murder trial. The characteristics of the jurors will impact the outcome of the trial. Jury selection has become a science as prosecutors and defense attorneys understand the importance of this aspect of the criminal trial process. Historically, many researchers have suggested that juries were easily selected with little consideration to qualifications. Rare cases have been cited where larger numbers of candidates were screened in efforts to seat a jury. The research for this study has found that jury selection in capital murder trials was not an easy process. Large numbers of candidates were disqualified in the selection process for various reasons. Even though efforts were made to seat a non-biased jury, which was often not the case in New York capital murder trials. The biases of the jurors resulted in acquittals of many seemingly guilty offenders. This research uses capital murder trial transcripts to evaluate the impact of juror biases in early capital murder cases in New York city.

Author

• Paige Heather Gordier, Lake Superior State University