TWEET ABOUT ANYTHING, EXCLUDING JURY SERVICE
The Chicago Sun-times recently reported that jurors are sending Twitter messages from courthouses across the country about their service. Experts said Tuesday that most messages posted to the social networking site are innocuous, perhaps expressing boredom.
But at least a few jurors have gone online to discuss cases they are helping decide.
In Philadelphia this week, a juror in a high-profile public corruption case told Facebook friends to “Stay tuned for a big announcement on Monday” — forecasting that a verdict was near.
Jurors are instructed by the judge presiding over their case that they are not to discuss the cases with anyone until they are dismissed upon the conclusion of the case. They are to judge the evidence in the case without outside influences. I support updating jury instructions to clarify that online communications about a case, via email, Facebook, Twitter, or otherwise are prohibited.
