As a juror, posting on Facebook can cost you $1,000

Queens Supreme Court Justice Ira Margulis found a juror in a robbery case she was presiding on in contempt of court and fine her $1000 for posting comments on Facebook during trial, in violation of an expressed order form the Court. The juror’s conduct resulted in a mistrial, because she could not be substituted.

In particular the juror posted the following: “Everything about this process is inefficient” – “I’m trying to remain positive and centered but, truthfully, I’m dying from boredom.” And while jury’s deliberation: “God help me”  “The other jurors don’t trust the police and want to outright dismiss the confessions as well as the majority of the rest of the evidence. Tomorrow is going to be a very difficult day.”

Unfortunately for the juror, one of her Facebook friends was a former federal and Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office prosecutor and reported her.

More here and here.

For more information, Francesca Giannoni-Crystal

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