CT Judge OK’s Facebook Joking Juror & Juror Facebook-friending
- By : Cbh
- Category : Social Media, Trial
On October 5, 2011, a Connecticut federal court judge declined to order a new trial after the defendant in a tax evasion case learned that (a) “Juror X” was posting on Facebook during trial that he “may get 2 hang someone… can’t wait” and “Guinness for lunch break” and (b) “Juror X” was Facebook-friending “Juror Y.”
During an in camera evidentiary hearing, Juror X stated that the “hanging” comment was simply a joke and that he kept an open mind throughout the trial. Likewise, he acknowledged that he Facebook-friended Juror Y but that they never have improper communications during the trial.
The order in United States v. Stavros M. Ganias is here.