Question 1

Researchers have found that it is possible for mock jurors to be influenced by issues that are not specifically related to a particular case but are thematically relevant.Researchers call this

Accepted Answer

Generic prejudice refers to biases or attitudes that are not specific to a particular case but are relevant to the themes or issues being discussed. For example, if a case involves discrimination against a particular race, mock jurors who hold general prejudices against that race may be more likely to side against the plaintiff even if the specific facts of the case do not support this conclusion.

Question 2

Overall, available research suggests jurors exposed to pretrial publicity are __________________ to favor the ____________________.

Accepted Answer

Research suggests that jurors exposed to pretrial publicity are more likely to favor the prosecution.

Question 3

Which of the following is not listed in Chapter 12 as a possible safeguard against the effects of pretrial publicity?

Accepted Answer

Changing the name of the defendant is not listed as a possible safeguard against the effects of pretrial publicity in Chapter 12. The other options, such as postponing the trial, conducting an expanded voir dire, and changing the venue, are all discussed as potential ways to address the impact of prejudicial information on a trial.

Question 4

A person who advocates punishment for those who violate established norms, who strictly adheres to conventional values, and who identifies with powerful figures would

Accepted Answer

This person would score high on a measure of authoritarianism because they strongly believe in punishment for those who violate established norms, adhere to conventional values, and identify with powerful figures, which are all characteristics of an authoritative personality.

Question 5

Jurors who believe that they are responsible for determining their outcomes in life are more likely to

Accepted Answer

Jurors who believe they are responsible for determining their outcomes in life are more likely to hold others accountable for their actions as well. Hence, they are more likely to assume that the defendant was responsible for his or her actions too.

Question 6

If the judge grants a continuance,

Accepted Answer

A continuance is a postponement of a trial. It is typically granted to allow for more time to prepare a case, to resolve conflicts in the schedule, or to allow the prosecution or defense to obtain critical evidence. In cases where pretrial publicity may have biased potential jurors, a continuance may be granted to allow for the effects of that publicity to diminish over time. Voir dire, which is the process of selecting jurors, is not necessarily impacted by a continuance. The defendant's behavior is generally not a factor in whether or not a continuance is granted.

Question 7

Researchers who have conducted field studies of the effects of naturally occurring publicity have found that those exposed to pretrial publicity

Accepted Answer

Field studies have shown that exposure to pretrial publicity increases knowledge about the event, but it also increases the likelihood of prejudging the case and being aware of incriminating but inadmissible information. Therefore, all of the above options are correct.

Question 8

George is a prospective juror who believes that an African American defendant is more likely to be guilty of a crime than a white defendant.According to Chapter 12, this preexisting belief that George has is considered to be

Accepted Answer

Generic prejudice refers to preconceived notions or biases that are not specific to the case at hand but are based on general stereotypes or beliefs, such as racial biases.

Question 9

Johnson and Haney's (1994) study of voir dire found that

Accepted Answer

The answer of Johnson and Haney's (1994) study of voir...

Question 10

With regard to the Five Factor Model of Personality, researchers have found that jurors who voted for acquittals in criminal cases scored higher on which of the following measures?

Accepted Answer

The answer of With regard to the Five Factor Model...

Question 11

Claire is a prospective juror in a case in which there has been a lot of pretrial publicity.Claire maintains that despite the fact that she has heard of the defendant and is aware of some of the negative publicity, she will be impartial.According to information presented in Chapter 12, should Claire be believed and chosen as a juror?

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that often people are not aware of their biases or may not be willing to admit to them, and pretrial publicity can have a significant impact on a juror's ability to be impartial. Therefore, Claire's self-reported impartiality should not necessarily be taken at face value, and she should be further questioned about her ability to be impartial in light of the pretrial publicity.

Question 12

Pretrial publicity reflects a clash between the _______________________ Amendments.

Accepted Answer

The First Amendment guarantees freedom of the press, while the Sixth Amendment guarantees a fair trial, including an impartial jury. Pretrial publicity can potentially influence the jury pool and interfere with the defendant's right to a fair trial, leading to a clash between these two amendments.

Question 13

What is the current status of the rights of the press to be present in the courtroom?

Accepted Answer

According to the First Amendment, the press has the right to be present during criminal trials, but they may be excluded from pretrial hearings if there is a compelling reason to do so, such as protecting a defendant's right to a fair trial. However, this is not an absolute exclusion and must be narrowly tailored to serve a compelling interest. Therefore, the press may not be excluded from actual trials, but they may be excluded from pretrial hearings in certain circumstances.

Question 14

Researchers have considered the relationship between juror socioeconomic status and juror behavior and have found that well-off jurors tended to be

Accepted Answer

Well-off jurors are often perceived as more influential and tend to be harsher in their judgments.

Question 15

Which of the following methods do jury consultants use?

Accepted Answer

Jury consultants use all of the above methods to gather information on potential jurors and to help attorneys prepare for trial. Public opinion surveys can provide information on how the community views certain issues and can help attorneys tailor their arguments accordingly. Focus groups allow consultants to observe how potential jurors react to different circumstances and arguments. Mock trials can provide valuable insight into how a real jury may react to a case and can help attorneys identify strengths and weaknesses in their arguments.

Question 16

When Nietzel and Dillehay (1986) evaluated the effectiveness of the defense's use of jury consultants in 31 death penalty cases, they found that

Accepted Answer

Nietzel and Dillehay found that juries recommended the death penalty in 61% of the trials in which consultants were not used by the defense versus 33% in trials with defense jury consultants. This suggests that the use of defense jury consultants may be effective in reducing the likelihood of the death penalty being recommended.

Question 17

A mother is on trial for murdering her baby.According to Chapter 12, those who are authoritarian are more likely to

Accepted Answer

According to Chapter 12, individuals who are authoritarian are more likely to vote for conviction. Therefore, the best choice is B.

Question 18

Research by Horowitz (1980) comparing the "scientific" method of jury selection with the conventional method found that, overall

Accepted Answer

Horowitz's research found that neither the scientific nor conventional method was superior in every type of trial, indicating that there may be contextual factors that affect the effectiveness of each method.

Question 19

Researchers conducting experiments investigating the effects of pretrial publicity have generally found that pretrial publicity

Accepted Answer

Research has found that pretrial publicity can have an impact on jurors in all of these ways, affecting their views of the defendant's character, their initial thoughts about guilt or innocence, and ultimately their verdicts. However, the specific nature and extent of this impact may depend on various factors such as the type and amount of publicity, juror demographics and characteristics, and the strength of the evidence presented at trial.

Question 20

What is the relationship between demographic variables and verdicts?

Accepted Answer

The statement "The relationships between demographic variables and verdicts, if present at all, tends to be small" suggests that there may be some relationship, but it may not be significant. However, there are specific instances where demographic variables do have a more significant impact on verdicts, such as in trials involving sexual harassment or domestic violence, where gender tends to play a more prominent role. Therefore, all three options are valid and relevant, making D the best choice.

Quiz 12: Preparing for Trial