Lawyers Using Facebook Research For Jury Selection

unassimilatible writes "Trial lawyers are increasingly using social networking sites like Facebook to research jurors in real-time during the voir dire process. Armando Villalobos, the district attorney of Cameron County, Brownsville, Texas, last year equipped his prosecutors with iPads to scan the Web during jury selection. But what of the jurors who have their privacy settings restricted to 'friends only?' Mr. Villalobos has thought of a potential workaround: granting members of the jury pool free access to the court's wi-fi network in exchange for temporarily 'friending' his office. Faustian bargain, or another way to get out of jury duty?"

No need to "friending" the office...

[TheMidget]

granting members of the jury pool free access to the court's wi-fi network in exchange for temporarily "friending" his office

Or, more easily, just offer the entire jury pool free access to the court's wi-fi network, and then firesheep their accounts...

Re:IANAL

[Collapsing Empire]

Sodomy was made legal by the supreme court.

why?

[uncanny]

I dont understand why they are using and Egyptian newborn to help with this! What does she even know about the legal system?

Re:A solution:

[Immostlyharmless]

You don't need to be so blatant. Just show up with an *athiest* sign on your shirt. Then you can't possibly be held in contempt, and no one will pick you anyhow. You know us Godless heathens can't be trusted!! ;-)

Re:This keeps coming up...

[maxume]

More fun to be at least a little obtuse and explain that "no, I do not have a Facebook".