Googling Jurors: Trying to Find a Needle in the Internet Haystack?
Some recent media attention has focused on attorneys and trial consultants who use Google and Facebook during voir dire to learn more about prospective jurors. The Wall Street Journal and Reuters recently ran pieces discussing the practice and both articles describe instances where trial consultants and attorneys discovered information online that influenced the use of their peremptory challenges. Beyond legitimate concerns about jurors’ privacy, how effective are online searches for juror information? Both articles describe the kinds of information that might be found online, including the jurors’ favorite TV shows, their hobbies and activities, and their opinions as expressed on