July 29, 2024
In a recent interview with Jenna Sundel of Newsweek, IMS Senior Jury Consulting Advisor Jill Leibold, PhD shared her jury consulting perspective on the upcoming trial of Bryan Kohberger, who stands accused of killing four University of Idaho students in November 2022. The trial is scheduled to begin on June 2, 2025, with an August 29 hearing to address the defense's motion to change the venue from Latah County due to concerns about receiving a fair trial.
Dr. Leibold discussed the significant impact extensive media coverage can have on potential jurors, particularly in smaller communities where such news tends to linger in the public consciousness. She suggested that despite the national attention this case has garnered, a jury selected from a different area with a larger population might be less influenced by the media.
Drawing on her extensive experience researching safetyist and conspiracy-minded jurors, Dr. Leibold highlighted crucial questions to pose to potential jurors during jury selection. She specializes in developing statistically based juror risk profiles to identify candidates for cause and peremptory strikes. Read and listen to more from Dr. Leibold on safetyist jurors here.
