Jur-E-Bulletin 3/6/2026

Courtesy of the National Center for State Courts, here's some jury-related news people might be interested in:

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March 6, 2026

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New Jersey Supreme Court upholds jury pool after clemency order expanding eligibility

New Jersey Supreme Court ruled that a criminal trial may proceed without reseating a jury pool that excluded individuals with prior felony convictions, despite a last-minute executive order restoring many of those individuals’ eligibility for jury service. The case arose after former Gov. Phil Murphy issued a surprise, sweeping clemency order just days before jury selection began in a murder trial, allowing people who had completed sentences for indictable offenses to serve as jurors.

In a unanimous decision, the court concluded that the exclusion of nine prospective jurors with prior convictions did not violate the defendant’s Sixth Amendment right to a jury drawn from a fair cross-section of the community.

Writing for the court, Chief Justice Stuart Rabner emphasized that the governor’s clemency order reflected a policy decision about forgiveness of legal consequences from past convictions but did not create a new constitutionally protected juror group requiring courts to restart jury selection.

The court also noted the practical challenges posed by the timing of the order. Jury summonses had already been issued months earlier, and recalling previously disqualified jurors or assembling a new panel shortly before trial would have been impractical. The ruling allows the case to proceed while acknowledging that the clemency order significantly expands jury eligibility going forward, an issue likely to shape jury administration in New Jersey in the future.

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Florida judge orders juror interviews after $37M water crisis verdict

Pensacola New Journal reports that a Florida judge has ordered post-verdict interviews of jurors in a high-stakes civil case stemming from the 2021 Midway Water crisis in the Gulf Breeze area. The jury awarded 28 residents $37.4 million after finding Midway Water System primarily responsible for a sewer line connection that contaminated the local water supply.

Midway Water was assigned 59% of the liability and ordered to pay roughly $22 million.

The court’s order follows affidavits from two jurors alleging that the jury foreperson conducted outside research on legal issues related to the case and introduced that information during deliberations. Circuit Judge J. Scott Duncan determined the allegations provided a sufficient basis to question the panel and scheduled individual interviews with all six jurors to determine whether outside information influenced the verdict.

While the judge denied Midway Water’s request for a new trial at this stage, the juror interviews will focus on whether improper information entered the deliberation process. The inquiry reflects the narrow procedural path courts must navigate when investigating potential juror misconduct after a verdict has been delivered.

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Inside the federal grand jury: Participation, structure & practice

Recent Pew Research Center analysis offers a closer look at how federal grand juries operate. Grand jury is an institution central to the federal criminal process but rarely examined in public data. Drawing on federal court statistics and procedural rules, the report highlights the scope of grand jury activity and the structural features that shape participation in the federal system.

Unlike trial juries, federal grand juries are standing bodies that typically serve for extended periods, often meeting regularly to review evidence presented by prosecutors. Panels generally include up to 23 jurors, with at least 16 required to conduct business and 12 votes needed to return an indictment. Pew’s review underscores how this structure allows grand juries to hear large volumes of cases over time, making them a key gatekeeping mechanism for federal prosecutions.

The analysis also sheds light on juror participation within this process, how citizens are summoned, the length and rhythm of service, and the procedural environment in which grand juries operate. A helpful review for those interested in how federal charging decisions intersect with civic participation, the report offers a useful snapshot of one of the justice system’s most consequential, albeit least visible, institutions.

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Florida Supreme Court Jury Instructions Committee seeks prosecutor applicant

The Florida Supreme Court Committee on Standard Jury Instructions in Criminal Cases is accepting applications for a single open position reserved for either a prosecutor or an assistant attorney general. The committee plays a key role in reviewing and recommending updates to Florida’s standard criminal jury instructions. Resident members of the Florida Bar are encouraged to apply by May 29, 2026.

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