Jury Nullified PDF Download

Delivering a verdict that goes against the law, termed jury nullification, is a seldom studied phenomenon which has severe implications for the judicial system. Research on the topic suggests that those who know about nullification are more likely to advocate for it during deliberations and that jury nullification often occurs when there is perceived unfairness surrounding the trial. This research examined whether juveniles tried as adults are at risk of jury nullification and whether information regarding jury nullification or sex offender registry can affect nullification rates in a trial involving a juvenile accused of sexual assault. A between subjects design was implemented where 70 undergraduate students were recruited and placed in juries alongside a confederate researcher. Three conditions, a sex offender registry, a nullification, and a control condition were created by having the confederate share a homework assignment with the jury regarding the established topics. While introducing this information was hypothesized to increase nullification rates, no increase was observed when compared to a control. However, revealing a mandatory minimum law post-deliberation did influence several jurors to report they would have nullified their verdict had this information been known during deliberation. Results of this study suggest that jury nullification for juvenile defendants charged as adults can occur when specific injustices are perceived by the juror and that further research on this topic is needed to better understand the conditions or information that may lead a juror to give a nullified verdict for a juvenile defendant.