RECESS
INSTRUCTIONS DURING JURY DELIBERATIONS
Members of the Jury, we will
now recess for the day. You must cease
your deliberations until you return here [insert day] at [insert time] and I
instruct you to resume your deliberations in accordance with the instructions I
have given you previously.
In addition, I will now remind
you of my previous instructions.
You must not discuss the case
among yourselves or with anyone else.
You must not discuss the case with your fellow jurors until you return
and are instructed by me to resume your deliberations.
You must not communicate with
anyone about this case, either in person or telephonically or through
electronic means such as texting, e-mailing, tweeting or on Facebook or any
other social media.
If anyone attempts to
communicate with you about the case or discuss the case with you, do not
discuss it with your fellow jurors. Please
report the matter to me immediately and I will deal with the situation
promptly.
You must not read or have
anyone read to you any newspapers, news stories or articles about the case, in
print, on the internet or in any blog.
You must not read, watch or
listen to any media accounts or coverage of the case and do not listen to
anyone else discuss such accounts.
You must not read, research, or
investigate anything about the case, or any persons, places or topics related
to the case. This prohibition applies to
printed reference materials as well as any electronic medium, and includes
searching the internet for blogs, tweets, Facebook or any other social media.
When you return [insert date],
do not commence your deliberations until you are directed to do so.
When you return [insert date],
please report directly to the jury deliberation room.[1] Once you are all here, you will be brought
into the courtroom for the roll call.
Once the roll call is completed, you will then be directed to the jury
room to resume your deliberations.
You should only discuss and
deliberate on the case when all the jurors are together in the jury deliberation
room and you have been directed to resume your deliberations.
[1] If your local practice is different, modify this
instruction to comply with your practice and procedure.
