Juror Number Seven, How Often Do You Watch "The O'Reilly Factor"?

[sabra]

http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2007/01/16/publiceye/entry2363554.shtml

Juror Number Seven, How Often Do You Watch "The O'Reilly Factor"?

<snip>

As for Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald, his list includes "questions about what newspapers and magazines jurors read and where they get their news."

Why would Fitzgerald like to know where jurors are getting their news?

CBS News Legal Analyst Andrew Cohen told us in an e-mail that it isn't uncommon for potential jurors to be asked questions about their media habits because the information really does provide insight into the people at hand.

“If I’m a lawyer in any sort of a high-profile case, but especially one that touches upon politics, I want to know whether my jurors, say, listen to NPR or watch Fox News because I can then make assumptions about what sorts of jurors they are — how they view the world and which set of biases and perspectives they allow to filter their news for them. The questions are perfectly legitimate and the answers are telling and that’s a good combination for jury selection.”

As for the trial's judge, Reggie Walton, he has prohibited jurors from "reading newspapers, watching TV news or listening to the radio. He said court officials would screen newspapers and provide jurors with edited copies to read."

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. My husband was not only asked about what he watched

and listened to, but what bumper stickers were on his car (his answers were PBS, classical music station in Dallas, and none)

[LiberalFighter]

5. I don't put any bumper stickers on my car...

But I do put them in the car whether printed professionally or not.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

9. Smart move

My husband finally put one on our car, but I'd rather have them inside so that they can be changed.

[LiberalFighter]

12. I cut one of those plastic type window to size and use it for backing

and can put another sticker on other side... Have two different messages and switch them when needed.

[mmonk]

2. Very important in this day and age.

[MidwestTransplant]

3. Personally I think he is trying to gauge intelligence more than anything!

[LiberalFighter]

7. I wouldn't doubt it... they just had a intelligence factor put out based

on various news networks

[rfranklin]

4. These days NPR is on the right wing...

They seem to constantly have faith-based, fact-free "conservative" commentators on very frequently without any true left counterbalance.

[peace13]

8. NPR, Cspan, the whole lot

are so totally slanted to the right it isn't funny. I guess I would be out in the jury selection with 'Support the Troops/Impeach Bush' and 'Your silence will not protect you', as bumper stickers! I wish Fitz well but I think that I have crossed the cynical line and do not expect much out of D.C. in the form of justice. Peace, Kim

[Tempest]

11. NPR has gotten better

Since Tomlinson was ousted as head of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

[napi21]

6. I would think it's going to be extremely difficult to find ANYONE inthe DC area

who hasn't heard a lot about this Libby thing. The lawyers picking jury membersneed all the help and insight they can get!

[Botany]

10. This question is not about figuring out left or right but ....

..... if the person has an open mind. I friend who is a very good trial lawyer
asks prospective jurors if they listen to Rush or Fox ONLY to see if they have
an open mind and can look @ the facts objectively ......

Right wing listeners of Rush & Bill tend to have very closed minds.