[LINK] social media behaviour

[stephen at melbpc.org.au]

Eric writes,

> That various social media people don't seem to be taking
> any responsibility for their part in all this is galling.


As Jurors Turn to Web, Mistrials Are Popping Up 

By JOHN SCHWARTZ nytimes.com Published: March 17, 2009 (snip)


The use of BlackBerrys and iPhones by jurors gathering and sending out 
information about cases is wreaking havoc on trials around the country, 
upending deliberations and infuriating judges.

Last week, a building products company asked an Arkansas court to 
overturn a $12.6 million judgment, claiming that a juror used Twitter to 
send updates during the civil trial.

And on Monday, defense lawyers in a federal corruption trial demanded 
before the verdict that the judge declare a mistrial because a juror 
posted updates on the case on Twitter and Facebook .. lawyers plan to
use the Internet postings as grounds for appeal.

“It’s really impossible to control it,” said Douglas L. Keene, president 
of the American Society of Trial Consultants. Attorneys have begun to 
check the blogs and Web sites of prospective jurors.

There appears to be no official tally of cases disrupted by the net .. 
but with the increasing adoption of Web technology in cellphones, the 
numbers are sure to grow."

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Cheers,
Stephen