In a first for U.S. courts, a legal case in Texas selected its jurors on Monday entirely electronically. More than 24 potential jurors for a summary jury trial got on Zoom to go through the selection process with two judges. The process was livestreamed on YouTube.
Since the case is a summary trial, meaning the jury’s verdict is non-binding, officials thought it would be an ideal scenario for testing the viability of remote jury trials. Judge Emily Miskel, who was one of the two who oversaw the selection, told Reuters that, if the virtual case is successful, it could lead to more uses of virtual meeting technology in court proceedings after the coronavirus pandemic recedes.
For example, jury selection could be done online, rather than everyone having to come down to the courthouse, but the trial would be done in person.