Virtually the same? A comparison between in-person and virtual mock jury deliberations

Area of Science:

• Legal Studies
• Psychology
• Sociology

Background:

• Courts increasingly use virtual jury trials.
• Limited empirical research compares virtual and in-person jury deliberations.

Purpose of the Study:

• Compare in-person and virtual jury deliberations.
• Test hypotheses on attention, engagement, deliberation quality, and diversity.

Main Methods:

• 317 community members participated in 54 mock juries (24 in-person, 30 virtual).
• Participants watched a videotaped trial and deliberated.
• Jurors were recruited similarly for both formats.

Main Results:

• No significant differences in most outcomes between virtual and in-person juries.
• Virtual juries reported greater cognitive effort.
• In-person juries had more interruptions but discussed more topics.
• Virtual jurors were younger, wealthier, and more educated.

Conclusions:

• Virtual jury participation does not fundamentally alter core deliberation aspects.
• Virtual jurors processed evidence thoroughly and expended more effort.
• Virtual formats may recruit a different demographic profile.