[aldo_14]

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/11/29/camera_phone_court/

Sounds innocuous & somewhat harsh a sentence at first, but when you think of what the consequences could have been......

[NGTM-1R]

There goes your jury anonymity...

[pyro-manic]

Yup. Though I don't see why they can't put up a one-way glass screen in front of the jury stand.

[aldo_14]

Originally posted by pyro-manic
Yup. Though I don't see why they can't put up a one-way glass screen in front of the jury stand.

So the judge can make sure the jury is behaving itself (I guess... or maybe just tradition).

[pyro-manic]

Tradition.

Just between the jury stand and the viewing gallery then. Or just ban people from bringing phones into the courtroom? You'd think they'd find some way to stop it. They're supposed to be clever people, after all...

[aldo_14]

I think phones are banned anyways.  Also, I think part of the purpose of the viewing gallery is to show that 'justice is at work'; hidden trials don't have any form of public oversight otherwise.  A lot of odd nuances of the UK legal system (both of them)  probably date from the last few centuries, I guess.

[Moonsword]

They should be banned, at least.  Also, the jury should have some protection, since they *should* be impartial.

[aldo_14]

Depends what you mean by 'protection'.... the jury isn't hidden from view for a good reason; IIRc in cases when there is a known risk to the jury, the court would either be closed to the public and/or only carefully vetted individuals would be allowed in.

I think having a phone in court - or at least one which rings - is grounds for contempt.

[Corsair]

Meh. Stupid kid.

[Knight Templar]

Haha. He got an example made of his ass.