Calling it a “recurring issue of statewide importance,” the Arizona Supreme Court has ruled that keeping jurors’ names under wraps during voir dire does not violate the First Amendment.
Vice Chief Justice Ann Timmer, in her written opinion for the court, explained that Cochise County, Arizona, uses “innominate juries” to conduct all criminal jury trials. Both prospective and impaneled jurors are referred to by number in all open-court proceedings. Voir dire and trials are open to the public but jurors’ names are not provided to the public unless under court order.
