Simple English definitions for legal terms
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A stealth juror is a person who serves on a jury but hides their biases or conflicts of interest in order to be selected. They may have a hidden agenda, such as wanting to influence the outcome of the trial or profit from inside access to the jury deliberations. This is not allowed and can compromise the fairness of the trial.
Definition: A stealth juror is a person who hides a potential bias or conflict of interest in order to serve on a jury. They may want to influence the outcome of the trial or plan to benefit financially by writing a book about a high-profile trial.
Example: During jury selection for a murder trial, a woman fails to disclose that her brother was also a victim of a violent crime. She is selected as a juror and later reveals her bias towards the defendant, causing a mistrial.
Explanation: In this example, the woman is a stealth juror because she hid her potential bias towards the defendant. Her brother's experience with a violent crime could have influenced her decision-making during the trial, making her an unfit juror. By not disclosing this information, she was able to serve on the jury and potentially influence the outcome of the trial.