Jury instruction: media exposure

📄 Jury instruction: media exposure — Monday, February 3, 1997

Address:

C:\DEPT103\CIVIL\1997\FEB\3\JURY-INSTRUCTION-MEDIA-EXPOSUR.DOC

TRIAL

▲ Day 52 of 57

Date: Monday, February 3, 1997 • Utterances: 5

Judge Fujisaki gave jurors a brief but emphatic reminder to avoid all media exposure — TV, radio, newspapers, and secondhand accounts from friends and family. He noted media coverage contains 'all kinds of junk' that could taint their decision or create grounds to challenge it. The session ended with thanks and a reminder to return at 8:30 the next morning.

# 1 (The following proceedings were held in open court, outside the presence of counsel and the alternate jurors.)

# 2 THE COURT:

Okay. Ladies and gentlemen, I'm more official today. I have my robe on. I can't reiterate and repeat these things too strongly that it's really, really important not to allow yourself to be exposed to any news media, any radio, TV, newspapers, or anything like that. Because they are reporting all kinds of junk and we don't want it to influence you in any way and even more than that, we don't want anybody to say that your decision was influenced by any of this. So that's why it's very important that you not permit any of this to come to you either directly or indirectly. When I say indirectly, meaning friends or family members saying hey, did you hear this or see this. Okay. So everybody understand the instructions I've given to you about not allowing that to happen?

# 3 JUROR:

(Nod affirmatively) Yes. Um-hum.

# 4 THE COURT:

Okay. Appreciate your hard work. See you again tomorrow morning at 8:30. Thank you very much.

# 5 JUROR:

Thank you.

Temperature

routine

Key Quotes (3)

Hiroshi Fujisaki

they are reporting all kinds of junk and we don't want it to influence you in any way

Unusually candid characterization of media coverage from the bench, signaling Fujisaki's frustration with press treatment of the trial.

Hiroshi Fujisaki

we don't want anybody to say that your decision was influenced by any of this

Reveals the judge's concern not just with actual influence but with the appearance of impartiality — protecting the verdict from future challenge.

Hiroshi Fujisaki

When I say indirectly, meaning friends or family members saying hey, did you hear this or see this.

Closes the loophole of secondhand exposure, showing awareness of how media can seep in through social contact.

Light Moments (1)

Hiroshi Fujisaki

Fujisaki opens with a self-aware joke about being 'more official today' because he's wearing his robe.

Witness Demeanor

(Nod affirmatively)

Objections

None recorded

Proceeding 8871 • 5 utterances

Civil Trial

Department 103