http://www.sokolovesuccess.com/business-of-law/2010/03/01/stating-the-obvious/ Thu, 09 Sep 2010 12:07:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 http://www.sokolovesuccess.com/business-of-law/2010/03/01/stating-the-obvious/#comment-156 Mike Morrison Wed, 03 Mar 2010 17:40:58 +0000 http://www.sokolovesuccess.com/business-of-law/?p=799#comment-156 Gabe, nice post. I like your writing style. Gabe, nice post. I like your writing style.

]]> http://www.sokolovesuccess.com/business-of-law/2010/03/01/stating-the-obvious/#comment-154 Robert Palmer Tue, 02 Mar 2010 15:20:51 +0000 http://www.sokolovesuccess.com/business-of-law/?p=799#comment-154 I just finished a trial last week wherein our judge read instructions (brand new here in MO) that were very similar to the federal instructions that you quoted. I try lots of cases and it is imperative that we somehow control the use of this technology to corrupt the sanctity of the jury. Stronger instructions and constant reminders by the judge are a first step, but I have seen a few judges who now require the jurors to turn in their cell phones when they come into court in the morning and they are only returned when they leave at night (or for lunch). They are given a number to tell family to call if there is an emergency, but otherwise while they are in the court house they are cut off from the outside world. Of course this does not stop them for doing research on the case when they are home, but there is nothing but their oaths and morals that will keep them from doing that. In any event, I do believe that stronger very clear instructions repeated often are important and that courts should consider requiring jurors to turn in their phones while they are in the court house. I just finished a trial last week wherein our judge read instructions (brand new here in MO) that were very similar to the federal instructions that you quoted. I try lots of cases and it is imperative that we somehow control the use of this technology to corrupt the sanctity of the jury. Stronger instructions and constant reminders by the judge are a first step, but I have seen a few judges who now require the jurors to turn in their cell phones when they come into court in the morning and they are only returned when they leave at night (or for lunch). They are given a number to tell family to call if there is an emergency, but otherwise while they are in the court house they are cut off from the outside world. Of course this does not stop them for doing research on the case when they are home, but there is nothing but their oaths and morals that will keep them from doing that. In any event, I do believe that stronger very clear instructions repeated often are important and that courts should consider requiring jurors to turn in their phones while they are in the court house.

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