Legal Definitions - juror misconduct

Juror misconduct refers to a juror's violation of the court's instructions or the law during a trial or deliberations after a trial. Examples of juror misconduct include:

• Communicating about the case with outsiders, witnesses, attorneys, bailiffs, or judges
• Bringing into the jury room information relating to the case but not in evidence
• Conducting experiments regarding theories of the case outside the court's presence

These actions can compromise the fairness of a trial and lead to a mistrial or overturned verdict.

For example, if a juror discusses the case with someone outside of the jury, they may be influenced by that person's opinions or information that was not presented in court. This can lead to a biased decision that does not accurately reflect the evidence presented in court.