Tag: Jurors
Kansas Juror Found in Contempt for Online Comments During Trial
Two years ago, we anticipated a growing problem with jurors who disregard trial judges’ instructions concerning Internet use. In July 2011, we reported on the first known prosecution of a juror in Great Britain for Internet-related misconduct. Since then, a Florida judge sentenced a Sarasota County juror to three days in jail for criminal contempt…. Read More
Death Penalty Overturned Because of Sleeping, Tweeting Jurors
Contrary to our prediction, the Arkansas Supreme Court has vacated the conviction and sentencing of capital-murder defendant Erickson Dimas-Martinez and remanded the case for a new trial on grounds of juror misconduct. Although the decision is a definite victory for defendants, it may well invite a flood of appeals based on allegations of misconduct, regardless… Read More
Arkansas High Court Considers Impact of Juror’s Use of Twitter During Trial
Arkansas may be the next state (after California) to tighten restrictions on Internet usage by jury members. Earlier this year, California passed a law governing jurors’ use of the Internet. On November 17, 2011, the Arkansas Supreme Court considered whether a juror’s use of Twitter during a capital murder trial unfairly prejudiced defendant Erickson Dimas-Martinez…. Read More
New California Law Takes Aim at Jurors’ Uses of Internet
We have written about the impacts of ubiquitous Internet access and social-media networking on the jury system. Last February, we considered a Reuters Legal study that identified an exponential increase in the number of jury verdicts that have been challenged due to Internet-related juror misconduct. We also commented on a U.K. juror’s eight-month sentence for chatting… Read More
Spurned Juror Loses in Court, But His Efforts Lead to New D.C. Court Rule
A former juror in Washington, D.C., recently lost a District Court ruling stemming from his dismissal from a grand jury panel in 2001, but his case appears to have brought about needed change in the jury system there. Peter Atherton, a nuclear engineer, was scheduled to serve on the grand jury for 25 days, beginning… Read More
U.K. Juror Gets 8-Month Sentence for Facebook Use
Eight months seems a harsh sentence for a juror who made some ill-considered Facebook posts. Harsh, that is, until you hear the facts. The proceeding against U.K. resident Joanne Fraill is one of the first contempt prosecutions ever against a juror for improper Internet use. And the punishment she received is a reminder that, when… Read More
IFRAH Law
