Jury admonition

📄 Jury admonition — Tuesday, June 27, 1995

Address:

C:\DEPT103\CRIMINAL\1995\JUN\27\JURY-ADMONITION.DOC

TRIAL

▲ Day 104 of 167

◀ Sidebar: defense testing (2) Jury instruction ▶

Date: Tuesday, June 27, 1995 • Utterances: 8

Judge Ito informs counsel that a law clerk has read a book surrendered from one or two jurors, and has prepared a one-page synopsis of the 'offending pages' for counsel to review. The proceeding is brief and administrative, ending with a light exchange about the book before the jury is brought in.

# 1 (The following proceedings were held in open court, out of the presence of the jury:)

# 2 THE COURT:

All right. Back on the record in the Simpson matter. All parties are again present. Counsel, I had one of my law clerks read the book that we asked one of the jurors--two of the jurors to surrender to us for the moment, and I have a one-page synopsis of the offending pages, which might help you in your review this evening.

# 3 MR. COCHRAN:

Thank you very kindly, your Honor.

# 4 THE COURT:

All right. Anything else before we invite the jurors to join us?

# 5 MS. CLARK:

No, your Honor.

# 6 THE COURT:

All right. Let's have the jurors, please, Deputy Magnera. What's so amusing?

# 7 MR. DARDEN:

Good book.

# 8 THE COURT:

See, I have to hire people to read my books for me.

KEY QUOTE

Temperature

routine

Key Quotes (3)

Lance A. Ito

I had one of my law clerks read the book that we asked one of the jurors--two of the jurors to surrender to us for the moment, and I have a one-page synopsis of the offending pages, which might help you in your review this evening.

Establishes that the court is actively monitoring juror reading material and flagging potentially problematic content.

Christopher Darden

Good book.

Darden's dry aside implies he knows the book in question, prompting a rare moment of levity.

Lance A. Ito

See, I have to hire people to read my books for me.

The judge's self-deprecating joke lightens the mood before the jury enters.

Evidence (1)

Informal

An unidentified book surrendered from one or two jurors, with 'offending pages' summarized by a law clerk

discussed, synopsis prepared for counsel review

Light Moments (2)

Christopher Darden

Darden quips 'Good book' when the judge asks what's amusing, implying familiarity with the jurors' reading material.

Lance A. Ito

Judge Ito jokes that he has to hire people to read his books for him.

Objections

None recorded

Proceeding 7913 • 8 utterances

Criminal Trial

Department 103