Mock Jury Simulations: Adapting to Online Methodologies

Trial by jury has long been considered an essential feature of a fair and just criminal justice system in England and Wales. Promoting lay participation within justice discourse, the jury system is upheld as a cornerstone of democratic due process. However, due to safeguards implemented under the Contempt of Court Act (1981), research within the jury room in England and Wales is prohibited, meaning this central feature of justice discourse remains somewhat secretive and concealed. Mock jury simulations, therefore, provide an invaluable research tool, mirroring the process of a “real” jury within controlled experimental conditions. It enables researchers to gain insight into not only what decisions jurors make but also why and how they come to these. While some mock jury research has been undertaken in the UK, it remains a relatively underused methodology, arguably due to substantial time and resource constraints typically associated. Moreover, there has been no mock jury research in the UK, to my knowledge, that has been conducted entirely online. This case study focuses upon my own doctoral research to explore the benefits and practical considerations associated with conducting mock jury simulations online. It discusses how my own simulations were adapted to online methods as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and illustrates some key advantages of using online methodology in practice. For example, access to larger and more diverse participant pools as well as lessening time, resource, and cost constraints for both participants and researchers, ultimately making this an arguably more accessible methodology.