credibility determinations

Summary: In Episode #25 of the SM JUROR Podcast, Juror Misconduct Law in Review, Attorney Nilgün Aykent Zahour analyzes the juror misconduct issues in State v. Rojas, No. 2 CA-CR 2018-0271, 2019 WL 4051861 (Ariz. Ct. App. Aug. 28, 2019). Issue: Does the jury’s knowledge of publicized videotaped trial proceedings on social media prejudice the defendant?

Summary: Nilgün Aykent Zahour analyzes the juror misconduct issues in Palma v. Rite Aid Corp., No. B280445, 2018 WL 3640482 (Cal. Ct. App. Aug. 1, 2018).  The issues we’re going to discuss are evidence of a juror’s personal experiences, factors used in rebutting the presumption of prejudice, a juror’s self-translation efforts, sleeping jurors, and jurors who would not deliberate.  

Summary: Nilgün Aykent Zahour analyzes the juror misconduct issues in United States v. Harris, No. 15CR335-2, 2018 WL 3869579 (N.D. Ohio Aug. 15, 2018) and United States v. Harris, 881 F.3d 945 (6th Cir. 2018).  The issues we’re going to discuss are Internet research by both a juror and his girlfriend, Google search histories, colorable claims of extraneous influence, Remmer evidentiary hearings, and unsuccessful searches on the Internet and LinkedIn of parties, witnesses, attorneys and judges.

Summary:  Nilgün Aykent Zahour analyzes the juror misconduct issues in the case of People v. Bohl, 2018 COA 152, decided on November 1, 2018.  The issues we’re going to discuss are the denial of a motion to access juror contact information to prove juror misconduct after an evidentiary hearing, text messages between a juror’s wife and an attorney which reveal a juror performed outside research, and the finding that a timeline of events is not extraneous evidence.

Summary:  Nilgün Aykent Zahour analyzes the juror misconduct issues in the case of State v. Arndt, 426 P.3d 804 (Wash. Ct. App. 2018).  The issues we address are: Internet research on Google and Wikipedia to find a definition of premeditation, the presumption of prejudice and whether that presumption can be overcome or rebutted, credibility determinations at an evidentiary hearing, and a working definition of the abuse of discretion standard of review.