Jabbering Jurors

A few months ago, I wrote an article in Governing (scroll to bottom) about the ways state courts are trying to make jury service easier for citizens. One thing they should make harder is the use of cell phones in the courtroom.

cell-phone.jpg Consider this case in Chicago. Someone snitched to the judge that two of the jurors were text-messaging each other about the case. Now this important civil lawsuit is in danger of being declared a mistrial.

Jurors in Houston, however, were not unduly swayed, said the judge, by the fact that the arresting officers in a drunk-driving case had downloaded nude photos of the suspect from her cell phone.

Many local governments have considered banning cell phones that have built-in cameras from "zones of privacy" such as locker rooms at athletic clubs. Clearly, when it comes to courtrooms, judges need to instruct jurors to take it out in the hall.