Bias on trial: effects of pretrial publicity, victim race, and juror race on mock-jurors’ decisions and emotions

This study investigates the effects of pretrial publicity (PTP), victim-defendant racial composition (same race or interracial), and juror race on jurors’ decisions, and how this differs based on in and outgroup dynamics. Mock-jurors (Black/Hispanic/White; N = 1,123) were exposed to different PTP slants (negative-defendant, negative-victim, no-PTP) and victims who varied in race (Black/Hispanic/White) in the context of an intimate partner homicide trial with a White defendant. Findings highlight the clear biasing effect of PTP. When PTP was present, verdicts aligned with the slant of information presented. Only in the no-PTP condition did victim race affect verdicts and defendant credibility. No-PTP jurors were more likely to find the defendant guilty and less credible when the victim was Black versus Hispanic or White. There was a juror x victim race interaction – Black jurors were most punitive when the victim was Black and White jurors were least punitive when the victim was White. Hispanic jurors were unaffected by victim race. The results underscore the need for legal-system safeguards to mitigate the influence of PTP and suggest that racial dynamics may be especially impactful when case-specific information is limited. This research contributes to understanding how media and racial context interact to bias legal decision-making.