DNyuz, a digital news organization, that Jo-Ellan Dimitrius ’75 has been hired as a jury consultant in the trial of former Marine Daniel Penny, who faces charges of second-degree manslaughter and negligent homicide for the 2023 subway chokehold death of Jordan Neely.ĚýĚý
Dimitrius’s expertise has been called upon in numerous high-profile cases, including serving on the defense team for Kyle Rittenhouse. She was also hired by O.J. Simpson’s defense team in 1994 to help secure a favorable jury in his landmark trial.ĚýAs a key part of Penny’s defense team, Dimitrius is spending each day in the Manhattan courtroom, meticulously observing and evaluating prospective jurors to identify biases that may affect the trial’s outcome.ĚýĚý
“This case is being tried in the press, and a lot of people in the community have formed opinions,” Dimitrius said about her role in the Penny trial. “My job is to help ascertain what kind of biases are there.”Ěý
Dimitrius’s academic journey began at 61´«Ă˝, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1975. She went on to complete both a master’s degree and a PhD at Claremont Graduate School, where her doctoral dissertation, The Representative Jury: Fact or Fallacy, laid the groundwork for her career in jury consulting.Ěý