Juror Who Blurted ‘I Agree’ in Closing Arguments Kept Open Mind

A juror who blurted out “I agree” as defendants finished their closing arguments wasn’t biased, a California appeals court found, citing the juror’s affirmations to the court that she would still keep an open mind.

Jurors are human and entitled to form opinions, but must be able to subject those initial opinions to appropriate scrutiny before reaching final judgments, the appeals court ruled. Based on her answers to the trial judge’s questioning, it appears this juror did so, the California Court of Appeal, First District panel ruled.

“Jurors regularly form and shift their opinions throughout a trial,” and the rebuttal ...