Study Finds Virtual Juries as Effective as In-Person

Research shows online deliberations produce similar results to face-to-face jury trials

Jan. 29, 2026 at 8:23pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A new study published in Law and Human Behavior has found that virtual jury deliberations can be just as effective as in-person proceedings. The research compared 54 mock juries, with 24 meeting in person and 30 deliberating online, and found few significant differences across measures like attention, engagement, and fairness of outcomes.

Why it matters

As courts increasingly rely on virtual proceedings due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this study provides evidence that online jury trials can be a viable option without compromising the integrity of the justice system. Virtual juries could help courts reduce backlogs and improve accessibility, while still ensuring fair and thorough deliberations.

The details

The study, led by researcher Krystia Reed of the University of Texas at El Paso, recruited 317 participants to serve on mock juries of 5-6 people. Half deliberated in person, while the other half met virtually using the same trial materials. Researchers found virtual jurors reported putting forth greater cognitive effort, but scored similarly to in-person jurors on measures like case knowledge, motivation, and emotional engagement. While in-person juries interrupted each other more often, the overall length and quality of deliberations were nearly identical between the two formats.

  • The study was published on January 29, 2026.

The players

Krystia Reed

A PhD researcher at the University of Texas at El Paso and the lead author of the study.

Valerie P. Hans

A PhD researcher at Cornell University's Law School and a co-author of the study.

American Psychological Association

The organization that published the study in its journal, Law and Human Behavior.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Despite concerns that virtual formats substantially reduce jurors' attention or change the nature of their deliberations, virtual jurors thoroughly processed relevant evidence and reportedly expended more effort in doing so.”

— Krystia Reed, Lead Researcher

“This study provides little evidence that virtual jury participation fundamentally alters core aspects of jury deliberation and makes us very hopeful for the jury system, even as it begins to incorporate more technology.”

— Krystia Reed, Lead Researcher

What’s next

Researchers say there is still more to learn about potential differences between in-person and virtual juries, but the findings suggest online jury trials could be a viable option when in-person proceedings are not feasible.

The takeaway

This study provides encouraging evidence that virtual jury deliberations can be just as effective as traditional in-person trials, potentially helping courts improve accessibility and reduce backlogs without compromising fairness or the integrity of the justice system.