Factors influencing jury decision making

Characteristics of Defendant

Physical attractiveness: Jurors can be influenced by the defendant’s attractiveness. They are more likely to perceive physically attractive individuals as innocent.
Racial and ethnic bias: The race and ethnicity of the defendant can sway jury decisions due to individual biases or stereotypical views.
Socioeconomic status: Jurors’ perceptions of the defendant’s socioeconomic status can impact their decision making process, often disadvantaging those seen as coming from poorer backgrounds.

Pretrial publicity: Exposure to media coverage before the trial can bias jurors’ opinions about the defendant’s guilt or innocence.
Personal biases: Jurors’ decision might be influenced by their individual biases, including racial, gender, and socioeconomic biases.
Juror comprehension: A juror’s ability to follow complex legal arguments and evidence can greatly impact the decision-making process.

Deliberation style: The way in which jurors communicate and discuss the case impacts their decision. For instance, verdict-driven style emphasises reaching a verdict while an evidence-driven style focuses on thorough examination of evidence.
Groupthink: Jurors may be influenced by a desire for group cohesiveness, which may pressure them to conform to a majority opinion.
Leadership: Strong personalities within the jury might play a pivotal role in guiding discussions and influencing the final decision.

Order of testimony: The order in which testimonies are presented can influence how the jurors interpret and remember the information. This is associated with the primacy and recency effects.
Complexity of evidence: Jurors may struggle with understanding complicated evidence, which can affect the final verdict.
The credibility of witnesses: The perceived credibility of a witness can have a significant impact on the way their testimony is received and interpreted by the jury.

Emotional arousal: Highly emotional testimonies or graphic evidence can stir powerful emotional responses, potentially biassing the jurors’ perceptions.
Empathy: Jurors may empathise with either the victim or the defendant depending on the circumstances, which can sway their verdict.