The Supreme Court reversed Dr. Sam Sheppard's second-degree murder conviction in Sheppard v. Maxwell (1966) due to lack of a fair trial resulting from prejudicial pre-trial publicity and media interference. Extensive negative media coverage of Sheppard before and during his trial for the murder of his wife made it impossible for him to receive an impartial jury. The Court ruled that the judge failed to adequately control the media or protect Sheppard's right to an unbiased jury. This case established standards to help shield defendants from prejudicial pre-trial publicity, such as changing venues, continuing trials, and sequestering jurors.

1. Sheppard v. Maxwell 384 U.S. 333 (1966) Amy Keitel Melissa Lim November 9, 2009

2. Think About It! “Congress shall make no law… abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble…” “In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury…” “… [N]or shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”

4. Her husband, Dr. Sam Sheppard said he saw a “shadowy figure” standing over her body

5. Dr. Sheppard was arrested after an onslaught of media coverage of the murder

8. During the trial, Dr. Sheppard and his counsel were given virtually no space between themselves and the media

10. -Claimed they had illegitimate child

11. Two jurors admit hearing broadcastWhat should judge do?! Judge takes no action. Report is false.

12. December 17-21, 1954: Jury deliberates Sequester: v. to set off or apart; to withdraw; seclude

15. Sheppard’s trial violated the Sixth Amendment – the right to due process Freedom of the press-First Amendment The 1960s were a time of many people lobbying for civil rights and freedom of speech, and the Courts wanted to be sure to impede this right as little as possible

18. Continuance

19. Sequestration of jurors

20. Judicial admonition

21. New Trial

22. Voir Dire – Jurors

23. Gag Orders

26. 1963 “The Fugitive”

27. 1993 “The Fugitive”

28. Tailspin: The Strange Case of a Major Call

29. Walk for Justice

31. “Innocent Abroad, or a Calculating Killer?” (Independent.co.uk)

32. Murder of Annie Le, Yale Doctoral Student

35. Eakin, Marah. “Media Ethics with a Life at Stake: The Sam Sheppard Murder Trial.” Ohio University: The Institute for Applied & Professional Ethics. 2009.

37. Middleton, Kent R and Lee, William. E. (2010). The Law of Public Communication: New York, Allyn and Bacon.

38. Sheppard v. Maxwell 384 U.S. 333 (1966)

39. The Oyez Project, Sheppard v. Maxwell , 384 U.S. 333 (1966) http://oyez.org/cases/1960-1969/1965/1965_490