Anti-social: California’s Gov. Edmund “Jerry” Brown has signed legislation that admonishes jurors not to mix civic duty with social media. Courts will be required to warn jurors not to share case details or research potential case information via texts, blogs, internet postings, or various social networking sites. The new law also clarifies that judges have the authority to hold in contempt any jurors who disobey instructions. bit.ly/LTN1110k — Cheryl Miller
Unclear on the concept: A Texas juror was sentenced to two days of community service after pleading guilty to contempt charges after trying to “friend” the defendant on Facebook during a civil trial over a car accident. The 22-year-old Jonathan Hudson was removed from the jury; the trial proceeded with 11 jurors. Texas had recently added jury instructions that ban jurors from discussing cases on social networking sites; Hudson had received the instructions. bit.ly/LTN1110p — Associated Press
