Editorial policy

Call the Case publishes public opinion forecasts about court proceedings that are already the subject of extensive public reporting. We aim for the tone of sober court journalism — never entertainment built on someone else's worst day.

Presumption of innocence

Every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. Call the Case never asserts guilt or innocence. Our questions ask what a court will decide, not what a person did. Percentages shown on Call the Case are aggregated reader predictions — they are not evidence, probability of guilt, or a statement about any person.

Sourcing

• Case summaries are based exclusively on official records and established news organizations, and every case lists its sources.
• Allegations are always attributed (“prosecutors allege”, “the defense argues”) and never stated as fact.
• Each case shows the date its file was last updated.
• We use only licensed or original imagery, and we favor neutral editorial illustration over sensational photography.

Sensitive content

Cases involving violence, children, suicide, or mental illness carry a clear content note. We do not publish graphic detail that serves no news purpose, and we write about mental illness in line with established reporting guidelines.

Participation limits

Jurors, alternates, attorneys, witnesses, court personnel, and anyone directly involved in a covered proceeding must not participate in predictions on that case. We may remove votes we reasonably believe violate this rule.

Market resolution

A case's market closes as soon as a verdict is announced. The official court decision is authoritative for resolution; where different counts produce different verdicts, the most serious verdict returned controls. Resolutions and any later changes are logged.

Comments & discussion

Call the Case does not host open, unmoderated comment sections. Discussion shown on case pages is curated and moderated by our editors, and broader member discussion will only launch once we can moderate speculation about real people responsibly. Comments that assert guilt, attack participants, or introduce unverified claims are not published.

Fair play

Voting is free. Paid membership never adds weight to a vote, never reveals results early, and involves no wagering, odds, or winnings of monetary value. Forecast points and seasonal leaderboard recognition have no cash value. Member-suggested cases go through the same editorial review as any other case — suggesting a case buys no influence over how it is covered.