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1.2-2 Instructions Before Adjournment for
the Day
Revised to January 1, 2008
First day:
We will now adjourn the trial for the
day. Remember that you must obey the rules of juror conduct. You will be going
home to people who will be curious about the case and about the trial. Remember
that you have taken an oath that obligates you not to talk to anyone about the
trial or its issues until after you have rendered a verdict. That means that
you cannot talk to members of your family about it. There are no exceptions.
Though your oath should be reason
enough to obey this instruction, let me suggest to you a further, practical
reason. If you were to violate your oath and discuss the case at home or with
others, they might give you ideas or details from some similar circumstances,
and then you would have the problem, when you start your deliberations, of
trying to sort out which information you heard in the courtroom and which you
heard somewhere else. Jurors often find deciding issues to be difficult enough
without having the added problem of trying to filter out information that they
obtained improperly and that was not part of the trial.
Do not talk to anyone about the case
nor let anyone talk to you about it. Honor the oath you have taken.
Likewise, you should not seek any
information outside of the evidence being presented at trial. Do not visit any
location that has been mentioned. Do not look anything up, do any research or
perform any investigation. Remember that your obligation will be to decide the
case on the basis of the evidence that is presented in this courtroom and only
on that evidence.
If there is any media coverage of
this case, likewise you are not to read it or watch it or listen to it.
Subsequent days:
Remember that you must abide by the
rule of juror conduct that I described to you at the beginning of this trial,
and the instructions I gave you at the end of the first day of trial.
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