Sentenced to jury duty – indefinitely

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Dr. Conrad Murray sits in court at his arraignment at Superior Court in Los Angeles, California.

The Michael Jackson manslaughter trial is coming to a courtroom and television near you this September. Yesterday, the lawyer for the accused Dr. Conrad Murray asked the case judge about sequestering the jury for the entire trial. Attorney J. Michael Flanagan added, "or at least [sequestering them] during the hours Nancy Grace is on TV." Referring to the prime-time cable host who famously prosecutes cases for viewers across the land, Flanagan is concerned biased media commentary would effect the verdict. Sequestering a jury is expensive and unpopular. Jurors don't want to be removed from their lives for days and weeks on end. AirTalk will speak with experts on jury psychology. What types of cases demand sequestration, if any? Would you be willing to serve on a case that squirreled you away for any length of time? What about the cost? Can the system afford to sequester jurors? Can the justice system afford not to?

Guests:

J. Michael Flanagan, Lawyer representing Dr. Conrad Murray, accused of manslaughter in Michael Jackson’s death; Partner in the law firm Flanagan, Unger, Grover & McCool based in Glendale, California

Doug Keene, Founder, Keene Trial Consulting; Past President of the American Society of Trial Consultants.

Richard Gabriel, Trial Consultant, President, Decision Analysis; Assisted counsel on numerous high-profile cases, most recently, the Casey Anthony trial