You notice that one of your number is missing. That juror has been excused.
Ordinarily, we don't discuss why a juror has been excused. However, in this instance, I must inform you that the juror has been excused because the juror has conducted herself in a manner that is inappropriate for a juror sitting on a case.
The conduct that is inappropriate is that which is one that consists of communicating, or attempting to communicate with persons connected with this case, whether they're attorneys, employees of attorneys, or media, or anybody. That is inappropriate.
You are jurors. You are sworn to hear the evidence and to decide this case only on the basis of the evidence in the case and the law that is given in the case.
You're forbidden to have any contact with, or any communication with anybody connected with this case, except through the trial process and through the Court.
The attorneys can talk to you, only while they are addressing you in opening and closing argument.
The witnesses cannot talk to you at all, except by way of their testimony.
Employees of attorneys, they cannot talk to you at all. And it would be totally inappropriate for you to make any effort to communicate with them, as well.
Now, do all of you jurors understand that?
A jury is not a social club. A jury is the fulfillment of a legal obligation, and it is your duty to fulfill that obligation by being impartial and being careful listeners of the evidence, and to decide this case based upon the evidence and the law as you receive it from this Court, and not from any other source.
Now, when I say that is your duty, there is another duty; and that is the duty to conduct yourselves in a way that there is no appearance of impropriety.
If the kind of conduct that I am concerned with continues, it would lead to an appearance of impropriety, because it would be seen that the juror may be having inappropriate, although most likely innocent, contact with one side or the other, or the media.
You see, if the other side perceives such a contact, or the public sees such a contact, it is entirely likely that the public, in general, will lose confidence in the judicial process and would taint the integrity of having a trial. So it is very important that all jurors maintain themselves and comport themselves in such a way that they do not cause a perception of inappropriate conduct. And in this instance, that is conduct that would look like you're trying to contact somebody connected with the case.
Everybody understand that?
KEY QUOTENow, if anybody tries to contact you, as I've informed you before, let the Court know. That is totally appropriate.
I've always admonished you, and periodically admonished you not to listen to radio reports, watch television broadcasts, or read newspaper articles or news articles concerning this trial.
That is doubly so in this instance, because these things become news items and the media goes out there and just plays it for all it's worth.
And it's very important that you do not allow yourselves to be influenced by that. And the way we hope to insulate you from that is by ordering you not to do that.
The only alternative is to sequester you and put you in custody, so to speak. And I don't think that's appropriate in a civil case. And you've all sworn that you would comport yourselves in such a way that you would not allow that kind of exposure to -- information. I trust that you still maintain, believe that you will be able to keep yourselves from being tainted by outside information on this case. Is that correct?
All right.
Now, at this time, the clerk is instructed to place the names of the alternates in the gray box. And we will draw an alternate to fill jury seat number 4.
Juror number 294, would you take seat number 4.
Okay. Juror number 294, you are now part of the regular jury panel.
At this time, we will resume.
Mr. Simpson, would you resume the stand, please.
A jury is not a social club. A jury is the fulfillment of a legal obligation, and it is your duty to fulfill that obligation by being impartial and being careful listeners of the evidence.
The juror has been excused because the juror has conducted herself in a manner that is inappropriate for a juror sitting on a case.
The only alternative is to sequester you and put you in custody, so to speak. And I don't think that's appropriate in a civil case.