(a) Except as authorized by the court, attorneys, parties, witnesses, and
their respective representatives may not initiate contact with any juror concerning
any case in which that juror was summoned to appear.
(b) Attorneys may use websites available to the public, including social
media websites, for juror or prospective juror research, provided:
(1) The website or information is available and accessible to the
public and not the result of an attorney’s own social media account;
(2) The attorney does not send an access request to a juror’s social
media accounts;
(3) No direct communication or contact occurs between the
attorney and a juror or prospective juror as a result of the research,
including, but not limited to Facebook “friend” requests, Twitter or
Instagram “follow” requests, LinkedIn “connections” requests, or other
forms of internet and social media contact;
(4) Social media research is done anonymously. A search on a
social media site must not disclose to the juror or prospective juror the
identity of the party who is making the inquiry; and
(5) Deception is not used to gain access to any website or to obtain
any information.
(c) Third parties working for the benefit of or on behalf of any attorney
must comply with all the same restrictions as set forth above for attorneys.
(d) If an attorney becomes aware of a juror’s case-related posting on the
internet while the case remains pending in this court, the attorney shall report the
posting to the court.
