6.Jury Dismissal

JUDGE WHEELER: Members of the jury, I want to thank you for your time and consideration of this difficult case. You have put in two long weeks of hard work. You have been punctual. You have been attentive, extremely attentive. You are a model for this community and a model for this judicial system. And I thank you very much for your service to both of those.

I'm going to give you one final instruction and that's in regards to your rights as a juror. No juror can ever be required to talk about the discussions that occurred in the jury room except by a court order. For many centuries, our society has relied upon juries for consideration of difficult cases. We have recognized for hundreds of years that a jury's deliberations, discussions and votes should remain their private affair as long as they wish it.

Therefore, the law gives you a unique privilege not to speak about the jury's work. Although you are at liberty to speak with anyone about your deliberations, you are also at liberty to refuse to speak to anyone. It will be up to you to decide whether to preserve your privacy as a juror.

I can see that you have left your notes in the jury room. As I noted before, they will be collected and destroyed. They won't be viewed by anyone, including the Court. I'm going to ask that everyone please remain in the courtroom until after the jurors have been escorted out.

Again, thank you very much for your time and consideration of this case and your service to the Court and the community. And you are excused. The bailiff will escort you out. Thank you very much.