If you have ever been on jury service you will know that the
rules about contempt of court are quite stringent. Though everyone
in reality talks to their family about the case before it is over,
you are not really supposed to.
But talking about a case on social networks must be a modern-day
hazard for juries across the world? Of course, and court officials
now warn jurors of
the danger in using tools like Twitter and Facebook to update their
"friends" how a case is proceeding.
It is just plain common sense. If any release of jury
deliberations could cause a change in the outcome of a trial then
you keep your mouth shut.
But one juror in a Manchester drugs trial not only used the
Internet to start searching for background details on defendants
she also started up a Facebook friend relationship and conducted
online conversations with a defendant.
