Juror Tweets

Tweets from jurors on jury duty are going to be a big deal. I can't imagine what's wrong with people who publish more information than allowed; while the fact that one has gotten jury duty is one thing, tweeting while actually on jury duty seems a bit ridiculous. Yet people do it.

I would expect that, with such communications prohibited, those who ignore the ban and are caught would open themselves up to punishment from the court. I don't know if it matters whether or not they're discussing the case; perhaps electronic communication devices should be confiscated at the beginning of the day, to be returned at the end. After all, if there's an emergency, it should be possible, if old-fashioned, to contact the courthouse and leave a message for someone.

While people are accustomed to communicating in any fashion that they choose at any time they choose, there really should be limits. It's disrespectful at the least to be tweeting or texting while sitting on a jury. I mean, during court time.

Otherwise, I thought it was common practice to prohibit discussion of an active case with those outside the jury. How is it that people don't think electronic communication counts?

We'll see more of this issue.