The Importance of Political Preference

In recent years, American politics have become increasingly polarized and the gap between Republicans’ and Democrats’ political attitudes has widened considerably. The changes in the American political landscape have caused many trial attorneys to express a renewed interest in the ability to predict jurors’ verdicts based on their political leanings. This article reviews research results suggesting the extent to which jurors’ political affiliation “matters,” and illustrates why jurors’ political orientation must be considered within the context of other social and psychological factors to maximize the effectiveness of jury selection strategy.