Note to Juries: No Talking, No Texting, No Tweeting!

[MSI]

Seems like a no-brainer, since having some members of a jury sleeping or texting...either way they are not paying attention…this is a welcome modification of Jury behavior, in other words JURY, PAY ATTENTION!! Someone's life is at stake!
The article specifically addresses use 'for research', how about also, so they PAY ATTENTION!! (maybe there should be a pop-quiz given at the end of each day??)
Feb 8, 2010: Legaltimes: No Talking, No Texting, No Tweeting
A committee of the Judicial Conference of the United States has endorsed a set of model jury instructions for district judges to help deter jurors from using cell phones, computers or other electronic technologies during their jury service. The developed these instructions to address the increasing incidence of juror use of such devices to conduct research on the internet or to communicate with others about the case. Federal and state court judges have been struggling with the issue, and many are now instructing juries to avoid using technology for case research. There is no uniform standard across the country for jurors in state trials, according to the National Center for State Courts.
The suggested federal instructions inform jurors that they may not use those technologies in the courtroom, in deliberations or outside the courthouse to communicate about or research cases on which they are serving.
See the Full Story which includes the specific Jury instructions.