Implicit Bias in Juror Decision-Making: Sexual Orientation, Attractiveness, and Gender

How does defendant sexual orientation affect juror decisions? Does heterosexism have significant impact on how jurors decide these cases? Does juror gender and attractiveness of defendant contribute to potential bias? This program will discuss research conducted by Forensic Psychologist and Professor of Psychology at Professor of Psychology at California State University, Fullerton, Russ Espinoza, Ph.D., on the implicit biasing effects of juror decisions. Dr. Espinoza will review a specific research study he conducted that varied defendant sexual orientation, defendant attractiveness, and juror gender for cases involving murder of partner. Attendees will walk away with an understanding of the theoretical explanation of this potential bias, as well as other perceived influencing variables that contribute to juror bias.