Juror Asks Facebook Friends For Verdict Advice
“I don’t know which way to go, so I’m holding a poll,” the British juror posted on her Facebook page, adding the details of the child abduction and sexual assault case she had been sworn in to help adjudicate. There was also the “do not discuss this case with anybody” rule she’d agreed to adhere to, of course…
She was dropped from the jury (the trial continued with 11 jurors) after the judge was informed of her Internet indiscretion. She was, remarkably enough, not cited for contempt of court.
November 24th, 2008 at 5:40 pm
She should do some time for stupidity if nothing else. No need for a pound of flesh but 30 days would seem to be a minimum. If there are some hardship concerns let her do a day or two a week.
November 25th, 2008 at 6:49 am
Time to add “Don’t discuss this online” to the juror instructions! I’m just glad it happened in Britain before it happened here in the U.S.!
November 25th, 2008 at 11:57 am
No need to add anything specifically about “not discussing it online” as far as I can see. How is that not covered already under “do not discuss this case with anybody”?
November 26th, 2008 at 7:11 am
Too many people can erect a cognitive separation between “real life” and “online”. Best to make it explicit.
November 26th, 2008 at 6:42 pm
They should also add “do not discuss via semaphore.” Not to mention carrier pigeons. Many people have a cognitive separation between real life and carrier pigeons.
August 15th, 2009 at 12:58 pm
Класс! Афтару респект!