Category Archives: Social Media

Juror’s Friend Fiasco Lands Him in Jail

I recently posted about a juror who was alleged to have sent a Facebook friend request to one of the defendants in the case for which he had been empaneled. The juror was dismissed as a result of his antics. … Continue reading

Leave a Comment

Filed under Jurors

Juror’s Facebook Friend Request . . . With a Twist

In December 2011, Sarasota juror Jacob Jock was removed after it was discovered that he’d sent a friend request to one of the defendants. At the time, the judge did not charge Jock with contempt, electing instead to dismiss him … Continue reading

Leave a Comment

Filed under Jurors

PA Court Holds that Facebook Friendship Requires Recusal of Judge

Original post written by Lauren Moak at the Delaware Employment Law Blog. A recent decision by the Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas seems to hold that a judge who is Facebook friends with a party in a matter before him … Continue reading

5 Comments

Filed under Judges

Illinois Supreme Ct. to Hear Blogging-Juror Appeal

In 2004, a 34-year-old man was struck and killed by a Metra train near Berwyn, Illinois. His family sued and the jury awarded them $4.7 million.  After the trial, Metra learned that one of the jurors, Eve Bradshaw, kept a … Continue reading

1 Comment

Filed under Jurors, Social Media

Social Media and Court Employees

Social-media policies are the hot topic in the world of employment law.  Questions about the advisability of social-media policies and the legal limits on what these policies may and may not regulate continue to abound.  If it’s a topic of … Continue reading

Leave a Comment

Filed under Judges, Social Media

TX Juror Convicted of Contempt for Facebook Contact

A 22-year-old juror in Texas was found guilty of criminal contempt and sentenced to community service for Facebook friending the defendant in the case to which the juror had been assigned, reports KDAF-TV in Dallas/Fort Worth. Jonathan Hudson had been … Continue reading

1 Comment

Filed under Jurors, Social Media

N.Y. Ethics Opinion on Ways to “Win” Facebook Friends

The New York State Bar Association’s Committee on Professional Ethics issued an advisory opinion on an interesting question involving lawyers’ use of social media.  Opinion 873, issued June 9, 2011, answers the question: May a lawyer offer a prize as … Continue reading

1 Comment

Filed under Lawyers, Social Media

New CA Law Authorizes 6-Mo. in Jail for Jurors Who Tweet

California judges will no longer have discretion when instructing jurors about prohibited Internet use.  According to the San Fransisco Chronicle, the state has passed legislation that requires trial judges to tell jurors that they are not permitted to use the … Continue reading

1 Comment

Filed under Jurors, Social Media

N.Y. Juror Fined for Texting From Deliberations

The N.Y. Post reports that a New York juror was fined $1,000 for contempt after he sent a text message to a friend about the jury’s deliberations while the deliberations were still ongoing.  The friend–who is an assistant district attorney … Continue reading

1 Comment

Filed under Jurors, Social Media

U.K. Juror Sentenced to Jail for Facebook Contact

I posted previously about the UK juror who had been charged with criminal contempt for contacting one of the defendants in the trial she to which she was seated.  This story is of particular interest because of the manner in … Continue reading

Leave a Comment

Filed under Jurors, Social Media