The influence of technology is now reaching the legal system in the United States. In this week’s article we look at some of the problems that have been created in trials because of technology. Go to the link below and read the article. Write a reflective comment that shows you have read the article, expresses your views, and addresses my questions.
What is your opinion about the way in which technology is being used by jurors? How would you solve the problem? If you were serving on a jury and learned of another juror doing one of the things described in the article, how would you react?
Jurors Article
19 comments:
I think that they are taking it way seriously because they say that Google Map is illegal for people to use it because they can find place from their. I would solve the problem by letting people use Google Map and Wikipedia on researches. I would tell the boss that that person is using one of the things that is discribed in the article because they say it is illegal and they use it.
I think that the way technology is being used by jurors is rather unprofessional. These are jurors that determine whether someone is violating country laws or not. Instead, they are also violating them, instead of judging. Honestly, the solution to this can start with phones being forbidden from entering the courtroom or being with the jurors at all times during the trial hours. Then, it can also be that they block specific web sites like Facebook or Twitter from their phones until whatever trial is going on ends. If I was a juror, and I heard a fellow juror was doing this, my reaction would be as such: I would tell whoever hired us as jurors, specifically the one juror violating the laws. I would make sure that the law-violating juror gets off the case. In addition, for precaution, I would make sure it is on this juror’s CV that he has cheated his way through a case by using technology, so that anyone else hiring him as a judge is aware. So that if he is ever hired to judge any other case, they are aware of him violating country laws.
Personally, I believe that the way in which technology is being used by jurors is wrong. To begin with, the job of these jurors is to determine whether or not someone has violated the law through a certain action they took. However, these jurors are also violating the law by using Google Maps and Wikipedia, for example. These jurors have to take their jobs seriously and make sure that the decisions they reach are in now way influenced by outside sources, such as the Internet. In the end, these jurors are making decisions concerning someone’s life and they cannot turn to online sources to help them do this. On the other hand, though, I would solve this problem by using several methods. First of all, I would have a court official take away any devices that the jurors may have that have Internet access before they enter the jury room, such as phones or iPods. Additionally, I would make sure that the jurors do not have any computers with Internet access in the jury room. Lastly, if the jurors need to go home because they need more time in order to reach a decision, I would have the court send some kind of monitoring device with each juror that would be on at all times and make sure that the jurors are not using any devices with Internet access, such as their phones or computers. Last, but not least, if I was a juror and learned of another juror doing one of the things described in the article, I would first, just like Nadine said, report my findings to the court and make sure that the juror is removed from the case and that every other court in the country is aware of what they did in case they think about hiring them in the future. Moreover, I would then post my findings on public sites, such as Facebook and MySpace and report the consequences that the juror had to endure because of their actions, causing others who might want to do the same to think twice.
I don’t really think there’s a problem with jurors doing their own research- they just need to be sure its factual, and not just the ranting of an angry person, upset about whatever the case is about. But, as most courts agree, it’s not in the best interest of the case, so its very simple to solve the problem; take away cells phones during the case, and then have the jurors go to hotel rooms instead of going to their homes every night. If I knew that someone was doing this, I wouldn’t have a problem with it, but it would be wrong according to the court, so I’d tell a fellow juror, and maybe they’d think it was wrong enough and tell the judge.
I think that they shouldn't exclude any evidence and that the jurors should be allowed to view it all, anything can be refuted by the lawyer right?
What isn't ok, is that the jurors don't follow the judges instructions. I mean, yeah I would also research if I could, but the rules say don't right? Also, if the Trial was judged as a mistrial, would have the e-Jurors fined, for all the lawyers fees that were wasted in however long it took for the case.
Technology shouldn't be used in a courtroom at all because as well as information that is prohibited from getting in or out, the juror isn't paying attention to the trial if he or she is on their iPhone.
If I was on Jury duty and I found out that somebody was doing something they weren't allowed to do, I would report them, because unlike some small thing that happens on the playground, you could be influencing how somebody lives the rest of their lives with outside influence. Thats a BIG deal.
Omar Abdel-Rahim
I think that the jurors are being extremely unprofessional. It is very rude for jurors of a trial to use technological devices to post updates of the trial. It is extremely inappropriate, as it breaches the privacy of the person on trial. It is also rude because they should be focusing on the case at hand, rather than using all their attention to posting updates and PRIVATE information on a social networking service website. If I were in charge, I would ban all mobile phones, Blackberries, Iphones, etc..., as this would effectively stop this online problem. Or at least force everybody to shut off his or her phones. Either way would be an effective method. This would definitely cut down this problem. If I was on a jury and discovered that one of my fellow jurors was doing this, I would immediately alert the judge, and do my best to make sure that, to prevent the possibility of a mistrial, that the juror is kicked off. I would also try to get a warning issued to the current jurors and the future jurors, possibly in the form of a poster with a warning. So as to prevent this from happening. That is what I would do.
Omar Abdel-Rahim
I think that the jurors are being extremely unprofessional. It is very rude for jurors of a trial to use technological devices to post updates of the trial. It is extremely inappropriate, as it breaches the privacy of the person on trial. It is also rude because they should be focusing on the case at hand, rather than using all their attention to posting updates and PRIVATE information on a social networking service website. If I were in charge, I would ban all mobile phones, Blackberries, Iphones, etc..., as this would effectively stop this online problem. Or at least force everybody to shut off his or her phones. Either way would be an effective method. This would definitely cut down this problem. If I was on a jury and discovered that one of my fellow jurors was doing this, I would immediately alert the judge, and do my best to make sure that, to prevent the possibility of a mistrial, that the juror is kicked off. I would also try to get a warning issued to the current jurors and the future jurors, possibly in the form of a poster with a warning. So as to prevent this from happening. That is what I would do.
Omar Al-Sadi
I think that they are over reacting. If you want to solve that problem, just take away all technology away from the juror. EVERYTHING. I wouldn’t really care; it’s none of my business if i wanted to, i would blackmail them.
Every one hates jury duty, I remember when my dad got jury duty; it’s the mist boring thing in the world, why? Because you can't talk to anybody about the case at all, because it’s the law. I think that jurors should not use there cell phones during a case because that way they will loose focus, like if an Iphone or a BlackBery they can connect to the internet, so then the juror might loose focus and then the verdict will be wrong. What I would do to solve this problem is tell he guard to take all phones pr electronic devices away from the juror. If I was in the jury and I saw a man using his device I would not react in a negative way bit I would take out my phone because frankly I don’t really have the that long of an attention span.
It’s really unprofessional and they’re making way too much of a deal out of it. I have no idea how I could solve something like that, it’s pathetic let me tell you, it would probably be a good thing as Omar A. said to take away everything from them, even though that sounds kind off harsh but at least we all know it would work. And I wouldn’t do anything about it if another juror was doing something he wasn’t allowed, it’s not any of my business, and of course if what’s he’s doing is wrong then the truth will come out sooner or later
Who's "The Chaz"? I don't think it's anyone in our class....
Some "no-life" I guess ...
I think that the Jurors are not very smart and they are over doing it. Jurors are people that decide if someone breaking the law...The solution should be, disallowing phones or any electronic item in the courtroom, and having the the Jurors go to somewhere else other than their homes, for example, a motel. If I found out that someone's been doing this, I'd tell a Juror, as this might tell the Judge and the Judge would take care of it. I personally think they're taking this way too seriously.
As everyone is saying the juror are making a big deal about it and it is a wrong thing to do. The only way to solve the problem is to just take away all the Iphones and other technology, the juror are using. Another way would be that the jurors should be checked for any kind of technology that they can have in their pockets. When I'm talking about technology, I'm saying every device that the jurors use Internet with and another example would also be the Blackberry. If I were the juror, I would just tell the other juror who's doing things that was said in the article, I would just take it from him and tell him that he shouldn't be doing this because he would get in trouble so you would scare him a little. I think that these jurors should really stop what they are doing because its causing so many problem.
I think that the jurors are totally wrong. The only solution that can help is to take away all the technology from the juror like the Iphone, Blackberry, any kind of technology that connects to the internet because what the jurors are doing is extremely unprofessional they should stick to the law of the court and they can use all the internet accessing technology only when the case is over and when the law lets them to. If I saw another juror doing it I would advise him to stop and if not I would suggest that he should be removed from the case, because what the jurors are doing is causing lots of problems.
I think that technology is being used by jurors is unprofessional and wrong. I'll save the problem by is take away all the technology from them because they should always stay focused. For sure if I saw another juror doing that I'll advice him to stop and tell them that they are causing many problems. I suggest the juror should be removed of fired from his case because of the problem he mad.
I think the jurors are being very rude and not fair by using technology during their cases. One solution could be to try to make the trial condensed into 3 or 4 continues days in order not to give the jurors a lot of time. If I were serving on a jury and learned of another juror doing one of the things described in the article, I would report this to the judge that will do the right thing. I think that any one who is trialed should have an equal chance to every one else.
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