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US Trials Off Track Over Juror Internet Misconduct

Posted by timothy on from the drop-in-the-bucket dept.

aesoteric writes "The explosion of blogging, tweeting and other online diversions has reached into US jury boxes, in many cases raising serious questions about juror impartiality and the ability of judges to control their courtrooms. A study by Reuters Legal found that since 1999, at least 90 verdicts have been the subject of challenges because of alleged Internet-related juror misconduct — and that more than half of the cases occurred in the last two years. Courts were fighting back, with some judges now confiscating all phones and computers from jurors when they enter the courtroom."

3 of 405 comments (clear)

  1. Heya politicians, judges and media moguls... by Immostlyharmless · · Score: -1, Troll

    The internet and connectivity everywhere is here to stay.
    Get with the fucking program already and realize things change and that its time to recognize reality and follow suit.
    Thanks!

    1. Re:Heya politicians, judges and media moguls... by Immostlyharmless · · Score: 1, Troll

      This is a control issue, and they recognize that its much more difficult to control someone who has access to infinite amounts of information at their fingertips. I know, it sucks for the judges and lawyers that they can't exercise their type A personalities and run the whole thing as a racket anymore, but they seriously need to get over it. You can mod me as a troll if you want to, but the simple fact is, that law and legal procedures is merely another avenue where access is going to be a game changer. They can either realize it, and change the rules of the game to adapt, or they can spend endless and countless hours fighting against it, probably by way of what amounts to draconian force, and still lose in the end.

  2. I have a solution... by Haedrian · · Score: 1, Troll

    Instead of picking random people who aren't smart enough to evade duty - forcing them a day (or a few) off work et cetera - why not instead EMPLOY people who are actually responsable, and intelligent enough in order to properly take important decisions? You could call them, uh... judges... instead.

    Problem solved.