Trials

Multnomah County DA Implements New Jury Selection Rule to Combat Racial Bias in Misdemeanor Trials

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PORTLAND, Ore. — In a significant shift in courtroom policy, Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt has announced plans to eliminate the use of peremptory challenges by prosecutors in misdemeanor trials. Citing concerns over racial and ethnic exclusion in jury selection, Schmidt expressed that this change aims to foster a more equitable legal process. Peremptory challenges allow both prosecutors and defense attorneys to dismiss potential jurors without stating a cause, often used to remove jurors deemed as having implicit biases. Historically, this practice has been critiqued for allowing subjective dismissals that could contribute to racial … Read more

Philadelphia Sees Surge in Paraquat Lawsuits as Plaintiffs Seek Speedier Trials Amid Federal Delays

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Philadelphia, PA – The number of lawsuits against the makers of the herbicide paraquat in Philadelphia County has surged by 45% in the past six months, with the case total growing from approximately 500 earlier this year to 728 by early June. This uptick is occurring amid recent developments in a federal multidistrict litigation (MDL) which might be influencing the spike in filings. Judge Joshua Roberts of the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas’ Complex Litigation Center noted a consistent rise in cases. This increase is reportedly partly spurred by an April decision in the federal … Read more

Philadelphia Court Postpones Initial Glen Mills School Abuse Trials, Orders Mediation Amid Ongoing Legal Battle

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Philadelphia, PA — The first scheduled trials in the city’s wide-reaching litigation involving allegations of abuse at the now-shuttered Glen Mills Schools have been postponed indefinitely. This abrupt decision came just weeks before the cases were to be initially presented before a jury. Judge Joshua Roberts of the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas issued the halting order on June 14, impacting not only the inaugural trial that was set to commence on July 15 but also subsequent trials slated for August and October. The fourth trial, penciled in for December 9, still stands as scheduled … Read more

Insights Unveiled: Digging Into the NFL Sunday Ticket Antitrust Trial’s Intricate Jury Selection Process

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Los Angeles, CA — A landmark class action trial against the NFL and its 32 member clubs unfolded recently with jury selection, kicking off a legal examination of the league’s exclusive broadcasting arrangements through NFL Sunday Ticket. In the federal court, Judge Philip Gutierrez explained the case to prospective jurors, describing it as a challenge to the National Football League’s alleged monopolistic practices surrounding the telecast of out-of-market NFL games. The plaintiffs in the case claimed that the NFL’s agreements with broadcasters and DirecTV, which exclusively offered the Sunday Ticket package from 2011 to 2022, … Read more