Circuit Court Becomes Tweet-free Zone
St.
Louis Circuit Court has become one of the first courts in America
to address the growing problem of tweeting jurors. Social networking
sites like Twitter, Facebook and MySpace have been causing
headaches for judges who routinely tell jurors not to discuss
trials outside the jury room.
Consider this: a British juror was dismissed
from a trial after posting details of the case on her Facebook
page and then asking friends if they thought the defendants
were guilty. And in Arkansas, a $12 million judgment is being
appealed after it was discovered that one of the jurors tweeted
about the case during the trial.
The increasing popularity of social media
has caused St. Louis judges to seek a change to Missouri’s
official jury instructions. The proposal calls for jurors to
be given specific warnings about using Twitter and other Internet
sites during a trial. “Twitter asks one simple question – what
are you doing?” says court spokesman Matt Murphy. “But if what
you’re doing is serving on a jury in our courthouse, then obviously
we don’t want you discussing that.”
Since juror misconduct can lead to a mistrial,
and the added expense of trying a case all over again, more courts
across the
country are taking the problem seriously. However, evolving technology
makes it increasingly simple for people to communicate quickly
and easily through a cell phone or BlackBerry, meaning judges
have to be more vigilant about reminding jurors when to sign
off.
America Recycles Day Expo in City Hall
What: America Recycles Day Expo
When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13
Where: City Hall Rotunda, 1200 Market Street
Cost: Free of charge, open to the public
Join us for an annual celebration of America
Recycles Day! As our City rebuilds sustainably, see how the three
Rs (reduce, reuse, and recycle) meet the three Ps (planet, prosperity,
and people). Simultaneously, we can protect our environment,
support economic stability, and foster community development.
It’s as simple as reducing, reusing, and recycling with locally
owned and operated businesses and organizations. Visit this Expo
to meet people, products, and services available to help you
play your part in this grand new world.
First, the most important thing we can do is
reduce the amount of waste we generate. Missouri Department of
Conservation - Grow Native! (
www.grownative.org)
will share information about how to landscape and garden with
plants that are native to Missouri as a way to reduce use of
lawn and garden chemicals. Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District
(
www.stlmsd.com)
will also offer information on how to reduce household hazardous
waste, particularly to prevent it from getting into our waterways.
Visit with Operation Food Search (
www.ofsearch.org)
to learn about how we can help fight hunger by ensuring that
no food goes to waste.
complete
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Health Fair 2009
The Department of Personnel and the Bee-Fit
Wellness program will host the 5th annual Health Fair in City
Hall from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 18.
More than 25 vendors including AFLAC, 1st Financial
Credit Union, American Diabetes Association, BJC, Conseco, Dental
Source, Express Scripts, Garden Walk Massage Therapy, Great West,
Logan Chiropractic, United Concordia and United Health Care will
participate.
There will be drawings for attendance prizes!
Make plans to attend!
