Law Prof's Jury Room Activities Lead to Overturned Verdict

A New Jersey appeals court has ruled that the defendant in a slip-and-fall case was deprived of a fair trial in part because the jury foreman, a Seton Hall law professor, influenced the verdict by explaining legal concepts to his fellow jurors. The jury room activities came to light when the law professor article about his experiences was published in the December 2006 issue of the New Jersey Law Journal. The defendant contended that the article "disclosed that he improperly influenced the jurors and that there was apparent misunderstanding of the jury charges." A new trial for a grocery store originally found liable for $876,000 has been ordered by the court.

Some thoughts on the matter by Dan Solove (amateur jurors should be replaced by professional jurors). Hat tip to Mike Frisch (Georgetown), Legal Profession Blog. [JH]