Cole Goldberg on FOX 14 KARD: Protecting Jurors

After the judge in the Lindsay Clancy case indefinitely sealed the identities of jurors following a mistrial, citing a "real and present risk of harm," FOX 14 KARD invited Cole Goldberg, a national advocate for fair trials and due process, to explain why protecting jurors matters for every defendant and every verdict.

In his words

"A juror should never have to choose between following the evidence and worrying about their own safety."

"At the end of the day, jurors should be thinking about the evidence in front of them, not what the internet is going to do with the evidence once they leave the courtroom."

"They can very quickly go from deciding the story to becoming part of the story themselves."

What the interview covers

Why juror independence is fundamental to due process and to a case decided solely on the evidence
How the risk of being identified, doxxed, harassed or threatened can put outside pressure on jurors weighing an unpopular verdict
Whether courts need stronger protections for juror identities as social media makes ordinary citizens easy to find
How true crime culture has changed what it means to serve on a high-profile jury

Why this conversation matters

Protecting jurors is not about protecting a particular defendant or a particular verdict. It is about protecting due process. A justice system only works when the people deciding a case can follow the evidence and the law without fear of what happens after they leave the courtroom. Cole's own case was argued in public long before it reached trial, which is why he speaks about the pressure public opinion can place on the people inside the courtroom.

Interview details

Station: FOX 14 KARD
Topic: Juror protection and scrutiny after civic duty
Length: about 3 minutes