Is Social Networking Derailing Trials?

According to an investigative article by Reuters, the answer is yes. Since January 2009, judges have granted new trials or overturned verdicts in 21 criminal and civil cases.  In Advanced Legal Research this semester, we experimented with searching for phrases such as "drunk driving" or "jury duty" in Twitter and Facebook.  Some of the posts certainly indicate a lack of awareness of the restrictions placed on jurors and a startling amount of cluelessness about privacy settings on Facebook and Twitter.  Two favorite tweets:  "I know how jury duty is going to go: guilty" and "Released from jury duty. Sorry, dude charged with possession, you’re on your own."