Remote Jury Trials: Is it Justice if it's Online?
The COVID-19 pandemic forced courts to rapidly adapt, moving many judicial proceedings online, including full-blown jury trials. This shift has sparked debate about whether justice can truly be served in a virtual environment. Remote trials offer undeniable benefits, such as increased convenience and cost savings. However, concerns about witness credibility, juror distraction, and the overall seriousness of the proceedings persist.
Psychological research is now focused on understanding and mitigating these challenges, with early studies suggesting that online trials can be as effective as in-person ones, provided proper strategies are employed.
The real question lies in whether virtual trials can uphold the same standards of fairness and engagement as traditional courtrooms. Issues like juror participation, attention span, and the ability to read nonverbal cues are critical. For instance, it’s easier for jurors to get distracted at home, and conveying emotions and establishing rapport through a screen can be challenging.
Science writer Zara Abrams who specializes in psychology, neuroscience, and health believes online trials are indeed a positive shift in the realm of research. In her article "Can Justice Be Served Online?" Abrams explores these complexities and highlights how psychologists are addressing them to ensure defendants' constitutional rights are upheld. Abrams argues that online trials offer significant cost savings and are bolstered by employing psychological insights for communication, optimizing technology and presentation, thorough voir dire questioning, and addressing technological barriers, making them a viable option.
Focus Groups of America’s elite platform supports mock jury trials with cutting-edge technology and professional technicians to ensure data accuracy and justice. With features like comprehensive survey platforms and Real-Time Response Measurements™, FGA provides robust data collection and reporting, making remote trials more effective and insightful. To explore our innovative solutions and see how we can assist your virtual trial needs, check out our platform and tools here.
Further Reading:
Can justice be served online?
Psychologists are working to answer questions central to fairness, such as whether online trials satisfy defendants’ constitutional rights.
By Zara Abrams
Date created: September 1, 2022
13 min read
Vol. 53 No. 6
Read the full article here.