Big Data Won't Make Juries Better

Trial by jury, among the most hallowed institutions of the U.S. justice system, can be biased and inequitable. But if you’re thinking that employing big data can make it better, think again.

Creating a jury is a fraught process on many levels. First, there’s the task of filling the jury pool with citizens: Courts tend to select people randomly from voter rolls, state IDs or drivers' licenses -- an approach that tends to under-represent minorities and the poor, who are less likely to show up in such lists and more likely to have outdated addresses or work in jobs where they aren't compensated for a missed day.