Twitter from the Jury Box = Mistrial?

Posted on December 29th, 2009

Now that so many people have web-enabled cell phones, the risk that jurors may self-educate during breaks in a trial has caused some jurisdictions to contemplate restricting access to cell phones for jurors. According to Time.com, a case in Miami became a mistrial when the judge interviewed the jury and discovered that nine of the twelve jurors had done research on Google to help form their verdict.

I honestly find it surprising that so many people manage to bring cell phones into courthouses — there are quite a few in the Chicago metro area that won’t allow you to bring a phone with a camera inside the courthouse. How many phones don’t have a camera these days? I look forward to the day that one can present evidence 100% electronically. Perhaps seeing the info on a giant screen would keep people from looking for more info on their phones — the need for fancy electronic gadgets would be satisfied.

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