Murphy v. Florida 421 U.S. 794 (1975)

views updated

MURPHY v. FLORIDA 421 U.S. 794 (1975)

Jack "Murph the Surf" Murphy appealed a Florida robbery conviction. He claimed that he was denied a fair trial because the jurors learned about his previous robbery and murder convictions, and about the circumstances of the instant case, from newspaper reports. The Supreme Court, 8–1, sustained his conviction.

Speaking through Justice thurgood marshall, the Court held that juror exposure to information concerning the accused does not presumptively deny due process of law. Since the voir dire did not discover juror hostility and there was no inflamed community sentiment, the totality of circumstances did not show inherent or actual prejudice.

Dennis J. Mahoney
(1986)

(see also: Free Press/Fair Trial.)