According to the article “Mistrial declared as jury weighs assault, strangulation charges against Greensburg man” (June 7, TribLIVE), Judge Christopher Feliciani declared a mistrial in a criminal case after jurors were prepped to deliberate when “it was discovered that a juror had communicated with another about the case via Facebook.”
It is inappropriate that taxpayers should bear the expense of retrying this case when it is the result of a juror ignoring the clear instructions that every trial judge gives to jurors once they are empaneled — that they are forbidden to discuss the case with anyone (even another juror) until the jurors commence deliberations in the jury room.
In my opinion, this juror should be charged with contempt of court, and if found to have willfully disobeyed the judge’s instruction, should be ordered to pay restitution to the county in the amount of the trial expenses incurred up to the time the mistrial was declared. Service on a jury is serious business, not an invitation to play around on social media.
Mark Gesalman
Unity