Tag Archives: Voir Dire

Undisclosed Juror Tweets and Facebook Posts Called for District Court to Conduct Further Proceedings on Actual Bias in Boston Marathon Bombing Case, Holds Split First Circuit Panel

In United States v. Tsarnaev, No. 16-6001 (1st Cir. Mar. 22, 2024), a 2-1 First Circuit panel remands the penalty phase of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev’s prosecution in order for the district court to revisit whether two jurors might have been biased, based on their social media posts that they failed to disclose in voir dire. ‘InContinue reading “Undisclosed Juror Tweets and Facebook Posts Called for District Court to Conduct Further Proceedings on Actual Bias in Boston Marathon Bombing Case, Holds Split First Circuit Panel”

Eleventh Circuit Tosses Jury Verdict Where District Court Failed to Investigate Familial Relationship Between Juror and Defendant That Was Uncovered During Trial

In Fylling v. Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd., No. 21-13612 (11th Cir. Feb. 1, 2024), the Eleventh Circuit holds that the district court abused its discretion by allowing a juror whose niece worked for the defendant continue to sit on a jury, without at least engaging in some inquiry about whether the family relationship might impairContinue reading “Eleventh Circuit Tosses Jury Verdict Where District Court Failed to Investigate Familial Relationship Between Juror and Defendant That Was Uncovered During Trial”

Second Circuit Vacates Conviction Because the District Court Did Not Permit Adequate Inquiry Into Juror Anti-Gang Bias

In United States v. Nieves, No. 21-1901 (2d Cir. Jan. 26, 2023), the Second Circuit took the rare step of tossing a criminal conviction because “the district court abused its discretion by failing to take any of several possible steps that could have effectively screened prospective jurors for [anti-gang] bias.” Defendant Nieves was charged withContinue reading “Second Circuit Vacates Conviction Because the District Court Did Not Permit Adequate Inquiry Into Juror Anti-Gang Bias”