Legal Definitions - stealth juror

A stealth juror is an individual who intentionally conceals personal biases, experiences, or agendas during the jury selection process (known as voir dire) in order to be chosen for a jury. Their hidden motive is often to influence the verdict in a particular way, rather than to serve impartially based solely on the evidence presented in court.

Here are some examples to illustrate this concept:

• Imagine a high-profile criminal trial where the defendant is accused of a specific type of financial fraud. A potential juror, who has personally lost a significant amount of money in a similar type of fraud in the past, harbors a deep-seated belief that anyone accused of such a crime must be guilty. During jury selection, when asked about personal experiences with financial fraud, this individual deliberately downplays their past loss and pretends to be completely impartial, ensuring they are selected for the jury. Their hidden intention is to vote for a conviction, regardless of the specific evidence presented in this particular case.

  This illustrates a stealth juror because the individual concealed a significant personal bias and experience directly relevant to the case, intending to use their position on the jury to achieve a predetermined outcome rather than to judge the evidence fairly.

• Consider a civil lawsuit between a large pharmaceutical company and a group of patients alleging harm from a drug. A potential juror is a vocal advocate for stricter corporate regulations and believes that large corporations often prioritize profits over public safety. During *voir dire*, they are asked about their views on corporate responsibility and their ability to be fair to both sides. They intentionally present themselves as neutral and open-minded, hiding their strong anti-corporate sentiments to ensure they are chosen for the jury. Their goal is to influence the jury towards finding the pharmaceutical company liable, even if the evidence does not fully support such a conclusion.

  This person acts as a stealth juror by concealing their strong, pre-existing ideological bias against corporations, intending to use their jury position to advance a particular social or political agenda rather than to impartially evaluate the legal claims.

• In a property dispute between two neighbors, a potential juror recognizes one of the parties as a former business associate with whom they had a very negative and unresolved conflict years ago. When asked during jury selection if they know any of the parties or have any reason they couldn't be impartial, the individual denies any prior acquaintance or conflict. They hope to be selected for the jury with the hidden agenda of voting against their former associate, using the jury's decision as a form of personal retribution, irrespective of the merits of the current property dispute.

  This demonstrates a stealth juror because the individual deliberately hid a significant personal connection and a potential conflict of interest with one of the parties, intending to use their jury role to act on a personal vendetta rather than to impartially judge the case based on the evidence.