Can judges keep juries from being influenced by media

On Feb. 14, 20-year-old Nathan Richardson was awaiting his fate after authorities say he brought a weapon to Eastwood High School.

But before the verdict came down 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz walked into a Florida school and opened fire on students.

Seventeen people were killed, 14 others were hospitalized and the news spread like wildfire.

“It is not uncommon in terms of are there events in the outside world that can sometimes be a distracting factor to jurors that is fairly common,” said Judge William E. Moody.

Moody presided over Richardson’s hearing.

Moody tells ABC-7 judges have to take action when an event or hearing are highly publicized.

“You have to take safeguards to make sure that the defendant and the state get a fair trail not influenced by outside pressures,” Moody said.

To do that Moody says you have to instruct the jurors in various ways.

“Not to read newspapers, look at television and local accounts,” Moddy said.

But living in a high-tech world with laptops and cellphone notifications it’s a little more of a challenge to turn media off.

“It’s hard to avoid. Even when you’re told to avoid things you just run into it,” Moody said.

Moody says he reminds the jurors they are sworn under oath — the news isn’t.

“I inform the jurors it’s not the final word. Sometimes they have to have retractions, sometimes things come out in the beginning that it turns out not to be exactly the way it was and so it’s not the final word,” Moody said.

Moody told ABC-7 it comes down to the integrity of the jurors.

“I have found over the years that jurors really try to follow the instructions from the judge. They are very much in tune with this is important and that this is a critical duty,” Moody said.