Are sequestered jurors stripped of their smart phones?

[SoCalDem]

If they have private rooms and smart phones, it's hard for me to believe that they would not find out things they should not have access to.

In this day and age , it would seem prudent .

Sequestration is all about "no outside info"..

[hlthe2b]

1. I think so (and laptops unless they have no internet access)...

I'd imagine "news" channels are blocked on tv as well.

Usually marshalls check their reading materials as well. Not sure this would be much fun...

[SoCalDem]

2. For the "phone-ies" who must check their phones every 30 seconds, it will be like crack-withdrawl

there will be some jittery people on the jury

[frazzled]

3. In Chicago, no one may bring a cell phone or electronic device in the bldg

At least at any of the criminal courts in Cook County. (Daley Center, which houses civil trials, I think you can still). So if you show up for jury duty and just wait in the jury pool room all day, you can't have your cell phone or laptop. Empaneled jurors (along with lawyers,judges, and reporters), however, can bring phones in. The reasons are good; but the bad news is they charge you money to stow your phone in a locker.

One of the busiest criminal court facilities in the country will soon lose something common to nearly every other courthouse: cell phones.

Starting Monday, the Cook County criminal courthouses begin their ban on electronic devices that include cell phones, smartphones, tablets, laptops and "all other electronic devices capable of connecting to the Internet or making audio or video recordings."

Despite criticism, Cook County Chief Judge Timothy Evans is finally moving forward with the long-delayed ban for what he says are safety concerns. Evans told CBS Chicago cracking down on electronic devices minimizes the risk of witness intimidation and said he believes the ability for courthouse visitors to photograph or film testimonies has led to the murder of witnesses.

(...)

The Tribune reports Evans said some judges had complained of courtroom spectators snapping photos or video of witnesses, jurors and judges; in other instances, courtroom visitors texted testimony to upcoming witnesses waiting outside.

(...)

Those exempt from the ban include, judges, lawyers, reporters, police officers, jurors and those seeking an order of protection, Fox Chicago reports. The Richard J. Daley Center in Chicago's Loop is largely exempted from the ban.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/13/court-cell-phone-ban-chic_n_3075891.html