September 9, 2005
Jurors in Ryan Harris suit sent text messages
In an unusual twist in the five-week-long civil trial brought by an 8-year-old boy initially charged with the 1998 Ryan Harris murder, the judge on Thursday subpoenaed two jurors guilty of text messaging during deliberations, according to The Chicago Tribune.
After receiving an anonymous letter, Judge Randye Kogan ordered Cook County sheriff's officers to review cell phone records of a male and female juror.
"We have some jurors who feel it necessary to speak about the case, the young lady and young man text message each other in the [jury] room after each break and make remarks such as, `He's guilty,' or, `Explain what the lawyer meant by ...' [They] need to stop talking so much," the letter read.
After Kogan questioned each juror under oath, none admitted writing the letter... Brian Crowe, a lawyer for the city, said the two jurors should be dismissed
Bill Cunningham, a spokesman for the Cook County sheriff's office, said he had never heard of a similar request being made involving text messages and jurors.
"There have been problems of jurors talking to each other about the cases, but I've never heard of it taking a high-tech turn like this," he said.
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