Earlier this month, the Supreme Court of Florida adopted several new rules and jury instructions that pertain to juries during jury trials in Florida. In Re: Amendments to Rules 967 So. 2d 178 (Fla 2007). These new rules, which become effective on January 1, 2008, codify and expand some of the rights afforded to jurors in the “Juror’s Bill of Rights” passed by the Florida legislature in 1999. The new rules […]

Meet Erin – the blogging juror. Right now she is serving on a jury somewhere. Or at least she was last Tuesday and Wednesday. Erin has a blog, and she posted her thoughts about jury duty on her blog last week while she was on the jury: “yeah somebody actually put me on a jury. I guess I will probably be juror number eight, blowing everybody’s minds with charisma and excessive knowledge of forensic […]

During jury selection a potential juror stated she “did not think she could focus on the trial.” Both sides agreed she should be stricken for cause. But the trial judge refused to strike her, and she ended up on the jury. (This alone would probably have resulted in a quick reversal of any verdict). However, after the first day of testimony, the woman raised her hand (she obviously REALLY didn’t […]

The Fourth District Court of Appeal reversed a breach of contract case for failure to excuse a Juror Green for cause who said she  had a “bad taste” from having been sued in the past which would “probably” cause her to view the case with prejudice one way or another. The problem was — Green never did say against whom she would be prejudiced, and none of the attorneys ever followed […]

Last week the 4th DCA summarily dispensed with an appeal regarding a Neil challenge due to counsel’s failure to renew his objection before the jury was sworn. In Pozo v. State, 963 So. 2d 831 (Fla 4th DCA 2007) the Defendant objected during jury selection to the State’s striking of a Hispanic juror. However, he failed to renew his objection before the jury was sworn. The Court held that the […]