JURORS BEHAVING BADLY

A blog about the very small percentage of jurors who fail to follow the judge's instructions, including doing independent Internet research, using social media (such as Facebook) to contact parties and lawyers, and blogging about the trial. Juror misconduct frequently results in mistrials and a waste of resources. Links will be provided to sample jury summonses, jury instructions, and other resources to improve juror education and minimize juror misconduct, thereby promoting fairness of trials.

Monday, September 16, 2019

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