Post-Covin19 Courts: Where Do We Go From Here?

In Minnesota committees of judges and court staff are considering how to address the thousands of backlogged cases arising since the courts effectively closed with few exceptions.  Here is a link to a story about a federal judge who paused a jury trial and before resuming it is polling jurors as to their virus concerns should the trial resume:


https://www.law360.com/trials/articles/1265533/jury-in-paused-hacking-trial-to-be-polled-on-virus-concerns?nl_pk=cefc1377-7f29-477c-92de-8ebee6ee3d0f&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=trials

Juror Dismissed From Federal Leaker Case

Buried in an article in the Wall Street Journal today about a hung jury in the criminal trial of a former CIA employee, Joshua Schulte, who allegedly stole secrets and gave them to Wikileaks, is this reference:


"...one (juror) was dismissed during deliberations last week for reading news coverage of the case..."


The federal government must be concerned that it is spending millions to prosecute serious (El Chapo and Tsarnaev) criminals and lesser (Schulte) criminals only to be possibly thwarted by juror misconduct.  It's a serious problem in federal and state courts and seems to be continuing unabated.

One Judge's Opinion: Juror Misconduct Threatens Justice

Link:https://libn.com/2020/01/14/prudenti-juror-misconduct-is-a-threat-to-criminal-justice-system/

Followup to Sept 16 post: NY's Highest Court Blasts Internet-Researching Jurors

The highest appellate court of New York has soundly criticized the bad-acting jurors who research on the Internet during trial in violation of the trial judge's admonitions.  Here we go again!  Murder conviction thrown out!  Retrial to great expense of all parties and anguish for witnesses.


https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/31/nyregion/robert-neulander-wife-murdered.html

Murder Conviction Tossed-Juror had texted 7,000 times during trial

Judges often comment about stuff that happens in the courtroom:  you can't make this stuff up.  Human behavior is limitless in the crazy things people do.  Like the guys peering into Old Faithful at Yellowstone Park despite all the warning signs- it's a federal crime!  So no one should be surprised that a juror texts 7,000 times during trial, the defendant is convicted and the conviction is reversed on appeal by the intermediate appellate court in New York.  It is now before NY's highest appellate court.


https://www.newsday.com/news/region-state/robert-neulander-juror-texting-court-of-appeals-1.35890070

What is a "Rogue Juror?"

A "rogue juror" applies their own specialized knowledge and experience when rendering a verdict rather than analyzing the evidence.  Here is the appellate decision:


http://www.courts.ca.gov/opinions/documents/B285482.PDF

Self-described "Stupid Old Fool" Juror Gets 8 Months in Jail for Internet Research

One would think the message has gotten around to the public that ignoring a judge's admonitions about jurors discussing trial service on social media or doing Internet research can result in fines and/or jail time. But, oh no, here's another:


https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6891529/Stupid-old-fool-65-jailed-doing-background-research-complex-criminal-trial.html

Defense Attorneys for El Chapo File Motion for Retrial

The lengthy and extremely expensive trial of El Chapo may have to be retried.  Defense attorneys have filed a motion for a new trial due to juror misconduct during the trial.
Link:https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/el-chapo-retrial-jury-misconduct-investigation-813433/

El Chapo Trial May Involve Juror Misconduct

In perhaps the most important federal criminal prosecution in years, juror misconduct may have occurred:


http://e.startribune.com/Olive/ODN/StarTribune/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=MST%2F2019%2F02%2F24&entity=Ar01502&sk=A293F31E&mode=text

A Case of Sheriff Behaving Badly: Snooping at Defense Counsel Notes and Jurors During Trial Results in Dismissal of Charges

This is quite astonishing:



https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/san-juan-sheriffs-use-of-courtroom-camera-to-view-jurors-notebook-lawyers-notes-sparks-outrage-and-dismissal-of-criminal-case/

Prospective Juror in Criminal Case Causes Mistrial

Judge acknowledges that prospective jurors should be instructed not to do Internet research once jury selection starts. Here it caused a mistrial..
Link
https://www.wacotrib.com/news/courts_and_trials/mclennan-county-justice-delayed-in-two-trials/article_003b49e4-93af-5fb9-a6af-389d5852db33.html

After Trial, Juror Sends Victim "Virtual Hugs"

The MN Court of Appeals upheld the trial judge's denial of a Schwartz (post-trial juror misconduct)hearing after it came to light that a juror, after the trial, apparently being enamored with the attractive victim of the crime, sent the victim a text message that he was sending her "virtual hugs".  The juror allegedly got the phone number of the victim off a piece of evidence.  In a word: creepy.

Thorough Inquiry of Jurors Often Nececssary If Outside Influences May Have Affected Deliberations

Here is a Minnesota case just issued dealing with an issue I have addressed before in this space:
http://mncourts.gov/mncourtsgov/media/Appellate/Court%20of%20Appeals/Standard%20opinions/OPa171237-082018.pdf

100 Years Ago: The Jurors Drank the Evidence

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2018/may/22/100-years-ago-in-spokane-male-jurors-drink-evidenc/

ABA Article on Lawyers Searching Potential Jurors on Linked-In

Generally it is not unethical for lawyers to search for public information on jurors through Linked-In, but searching for private information or attempting to connect with a juror is unethical.  Lawyers should check their state's rules in this area as states differ on their rules.


https://abaforlawstudents.com/2018/05/01/is-it-ethical-for-lawyers-to-use-linkedin-to-research-jurors/

New Trial Granted Due to Racially-Biased Comments by One Juror in Minnesota Federal Trial

http://m.startribune.com/north-minneapolis-man-granted-new-trial-after-evidence-federal-juror-made-racial-remarks/481007841/?section=%2F

Deja Vu: Facebooking Jurors Cause a Reversal of a Murder Conviction

This time it's in Iowa.  A murder conviction was reversed by the appellate court due to prejudice to the defendant from contacts on Facebook some of the jurors had both before and during deliberations. Pre-deliberations one juror discovered that one of the defendant's relatives was her Facebook friend.  During deliberations a juror shared that on Facebook there were posts about rumors that there would be a riot or violence if the defendant was not found guilty of something.
LINK: https://cdn.radioiowa.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Christensen-opinion-PDF.pdf

British Juror Gets Suspended Jail Sentence for Internet Research

Once again, a juror is sentenced to jail, though a suspended sentence, for violating the judge's instructions by doing Internet research.
Link:
http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/news/16164599.Juror_avoids_jail_after_internet_research_of_case_forces_retrial/

Jurors Sometimes Violate Social Media Admonitions Because Judges' Instructions Confuse Them

https://www.economist.com/news/books-and-arts/21740393-legalese-used-their-instructions-can-be-baffling-it-neednt-be-too-often-juries?fsrc=scn/tw/te/bl/ed/toooftenjuriescomprise12confusedmenandwomenjohnson

Juror Playing Games on Phone During Deliberations Held in Contempt

Just like paying attention to the professor in class (and obeying the judge's instructions)  failing to engage in jury deliberations by playing games on one's phone can result in contempt of court.
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cumbria-43490590

In Rare Cases Voir Dire May Be Closed to the Public

Here is a link to a recent trial in which, for the privacy concerns of potential jurors, voir dire (jury questioning) was closed to the public. The original conviction was reversed for juror misconduct.  The trial judge must make specific findings that closure is justified. 
https://www.gjsentinel.com/news/western_colorado/interviews-of-prospective-blagg-jurors-closed-to-public/article_94c11180-179e-11e8-96c9-10604b9f1ff4.html

Trial Court Needs to Investigate Colorable Claim of Extraneous Influence on a Juror

Here is another case of a trial judge failing to investigate further alleged possible extraneous influence on a juror or juror misconduct during a trial:
http://www.opn.ca6.uscourts.gov/opinions.pdf/18a0025p-06.pdf

Juror Who Lied on Questionnaire Spends Day in Jail

A juror boasted to others that he had lied on his questionnaire.  Too bad for him that a prosecutor heard his boast.  Juror found in contempt and spent a day in jail holding.


http://www.post-gazette.com/local/south/2018/01/29/Allegheny-County-direct-criminal-contempt-juror-lied-Daniel-Puhala-Judge-Donna-Jo-McDaniel/stories/201801290097

Juror Jailed For Derogatory Comment About Defendant

http://host.madison.com/news/local/courts/juror-jailed-over-remark-in-sauk-county-child-porn-trial/article_a95bd26d-6fe9-5729-be49-03597a37bde6.html

Habeus corpus granted to convicted defendant where juror brought extraneous social media information to deliberations

Juror in murder trial brought to deliberations Facebook information regarding the defendant's past history and information on an online eulogy for the victim of the murder. Juror also "Googled" gang information regarding gang codes and activity.  Defendant was convicted. Trial judge denied an evidentiary hearing on juror misconduct.  Federal court has granted habeus corpus.  The state must grant a new trial within 90 days of the order or when appellate review becomes final, or defendant must be released.


Link:  http://www.ncsc-jurystudies.org/~/media/Microsites/Files/CJS/Other/Ewing.ashx

When Colorable Claim of Juror Misconduct is Raised, Inquiry of Jurors MUST Occur

The link below is to federal 6th Circuit decision reversing the trial court which failed to itself or permit counsel to inquire of jurors as to a color claim of misconduct affecting the verdict.  Here it was a juror's extraneous communications with a prosecutor (who was not involved in the case).This is but one of several cases in the past few years cautioning trial judges not to ignore claims of alleged juror misconduct but to inquire further through counsel.  (a Remmer hearing) There should not be a race to finality but rather a thoughtful systematic inquiry into what happened and how it may have affected the verdict.


http://www.opn.ca6.uscourts.gov/opinions.pdf/17a0208p-06.pdf

Why Juror Misconduct is So Wasteful and Demands Harsh Consequences

In June a California murder trial was about to begin after FOUR weeks of jury selection and the questioning of hundreds of prospective jurors when juror misconduct was found.  It is unclear from the reports but it appears a juror chosen to hear the case was conducting Internet research in violation of the court's order.  This is a misdemeanor in California.  The trial had to start all over again as a result and the juror (behaving badly) is facing misdemeanor charges.


http://www.vcstar.com/story/news/2017/06/27/judge-declares-mistrial-murder-case-after-finding-juror-misconduct/430576001/

Hilarious Comments From Jurors During Shkreli Trial Jury Selection

https://harpers.org/archive/2017/09/public-enemy/

Jurors Cannot Consider Possible Sentence in Deliberations in Criminal Case

Judges instruct jurors that during their deliberations they cannot consider the possible sentence in determining guilt.  The jurors in this case considered the comments of a juror about possible sentence, including release and credit for jail time already served.  The murder conviction was reversed and a new trial ordered.


LINK:    http://www.courts.ca.gov/opinions/documents/E065257.PDF

Pills Disappear From Jury Deliberation Room During Deliberations

During deliberations the Ohio jury had in its possession 71 oxycodone pills which were evidence admitted at trial.  Sometime during deliberations someone, perhaps when the room was empty, took advantage and stole them.


http://www.dispatch.com/news/20170727/71-oxycodone-pills-go-missing-after-jury-deliberations-in-drug-case