New Jersey Juror Declared In Contempt For Googling During Jury's Deliberations
In what appears to be a case of first impression in New Jersey, a Bergen County judge fined a jury foreman $500 for Googling possible sentencing penalties for a defendant in a drug case. The jury's deliberations ended in a mistrial after he shared his concerns with fellow jurors. In the Matter of Daniel Kaminsky , Superior Court of New Jersey, Bergen County (March 13, 2012) . As wonderful as modern technology has become, this case demonstrates how the availability to readily access the Internet from almost anywhere on hand held devices and smart phones can negatively impact the sanctity of our judicial system. FACTS Kaminsky participated as a juror in State v. Luis A. Montas, Indictment No. S-149-11, a criminal matter in which Montas was indicted for allegedly selling 1,500 ecstasy pills to an undercover agent. The jury heard the case over the course of five days in December, 2011. Kaminsky was designated the jury foreperson. During the jury voir dire process