Juror Misconduct

If you don't believe that jurors are using social media against the court's instructions or they may have connections to those in law enforcement, associated with your case, etc. - just do a simple Google search for news items on juror misconduct. 

This week a juror in an Akron court was dismissed and a mistrial was requested because of her association with the Prosecutor's Office.

AKRON- After about ten hours of deliberations in the murder trial of Shawn Ford, Jr. two jurors were released on Tuesday, one of them because of her Facebook friends list. 

Ford, 20, faces a possible death penalty for the murders of Akron area attorney Jeffrey Schobert and his wife Margaret in April 2013.

The couple was found dead in their New Franklin home where they had been beaten to death with a sledge hammer.

Following lunch on Tuesday, another juror was called into the courtoom alone and questioned about her Facebook friends list that includes Summit County Prosecutor Sheri Bevan Walsh and other high-ranking employees of the prosecutor’s office. 

Jurors who have publicly accessible social media should be reviewed prior to voir dire, and those who do make the jury should be monitored to ensure that there is no misconduct.