2 minute read | May.21.2026
The Wall Street Journal featured Orrick’s original jury research in an article this week entitled America’s Toxic Divide Reaches the Jury Room. Speaking with Orrick’s David McGill, who leads the firm’s Complex Litigation Group, WSJ reporter Corinne Ramey reports on how the “erosion of trust in the justice system, more rigid viewpoints and starker political divides” among the U.S. public is reflected in the jury room – and how that has impacted on deliberations and outcomes in high-profile trials.
The article examines the results of Orrick’s survey, conducted in partnership with jury consultant J. Lee Meihls, to gain insights into what’s on the minds of Americans – and how it has changed over time. Over 1,100 jury-eligible adults in the U.S. were surveyed and their responses analyzed against jurisdiction-specific and historical data. The WSJ noted the results:
In 2025, 47% said they were biased against large corporations, nearly double that from 2018. Fifty-seven percent said they distrusted the U.S. justice system, up from 48% in 2022, and 65% of people were willing to take the law into their own hands as opposed to following the judge’s instructions, up from 52%.
Dave explains to the WSJ the significant implications these findings have for companies assessing trial strategy and risk. “In a world where juror nullification is increasingly more the rule rather than the exception, feeling good about the facts might not be enough,” he said.
Read more about Orrick’s original jury research here.