Jurors: electronic communications.

(1) Existing law requires the court in a jury trial to admonish the jury that it is their duty not to converse with, or permit themselves to be addressed by, any other person on any subject of the trial. The court is required to provide the admonishment in a civil proceeding when the jurors are permitted to separate during the trial, and when the case is submitted to the jury, and, in a criminal proceeding, after the jury has been sworn and before the people's opening address, at each adjournment of the court, and when the jurors are permitted by the court to separate after the case is submitted to the jury. An officer having the jury under his or her charge shall not permit any communication to be made to them, or make any himself or herself, as specified. This bill would expand those admonishments to include the conduct of research or dissemination of information on any subject of the trial. The bill would require the court, when admonishing the jury against conversation, research, or dissemination of information pursuant to these provisions, to clearly explain, as part of the admonishment, that the prohibition applies to all forms of electronic and wireless communication. The bill would require the officer in charge of a jury to prevent any form of electronic or wireless communication. (2) Existing law provides that certain acts or omissions in respect to a court of justice, or proceedings therein, are civil contempts of the authority of the court, including, among other things, disobedience of any lawful judgment, order, or process of the court. Existing law also specifies certain criminal contempts of court, punishable as a misdemeanor, including, among other things, resistance willfully offered by a person to the lawful order or process of a court. This bill would make the willful disobedience by a juror of a court admonishment related to the prohibition on any form of communication or research about the case, including all forms of electronic or wireless communication or research, punishable as either a civil or criminal contempt of court pursuant to those provisions. By expanding the scope of an existing crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (3) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.