Juror Caught Texting; Spends Two Days in Jail

By Alicia Cruz
Associated Content

I know many of us have been called for jury duty and it can sometimes be a serious inconvenience, but once you're selected to sit on a trial, you're expected to take that duty seriously.

A man in Oregon learned that lesson the hard way.

A WCTI TV12 news article reported that the juror was jailed after the sitting judge noticed a "glow" reflecting the man's chest as the jurors were supposed to be watching a video, reported TV station KGW in Portland.

The judge cleared the courtroom and excused all jurors except the cell phone user juror. His contemptuous conduct earned him two days in jail and while he admitted there was no excuse for his behavior, he said he felt his jail sentence was, "harsh."

When a person's life or freedom lies in your hands and requires your undivided attention, you don't text or do anything else that diminishes your ability to fairly and accurately judge evidence.

I say the punishment fit the crime. Hope he's learned his lesson.

By the way, the defendant on trial for armed robbery was found guilty.