Suspicious Minds: the Challenge of Social Media's Pre-Trial Publicity: the challenge of social media’s pre-trial publicity

Inappropriate social media use can pose significant challenges for jury trials. In particular, it can negatively impact upon a defendant's ability to receive a fair trial and upon jurors making their decisions based only on the evidence before them, which are integral parts of the criminal justice system. This chapter explains this problem in detail and critically analyzes potential solutions to lessen pre-trial publicity on social media in jury trials. Some of these solutions include educating jurors, e-sequestration, and jury directions. Since jury trials are here to stay in the social media age, this chapter is an important read for lawyers, judicial officers, and others involved in criminal trials.