There are certain rules that you, as a juror, should follow throughout the trial to be fair to all sides. These are:

Discussing the Case

During the trial, until you retire to consider your verdict, you must not discuss any subject connected with the trial among yourselves, or form or express any opinion about it, and, until you are discharged as jurors, you must not talk with others about the case, or permit them to discuss it with you or in your hearing (or read, view, or listen to any newspaper, radio, or television report of the trial).

A person who insists on talking about the case to you should be told that you, as a member of the jury, cannot discuss the case. If the person persists, you should attempt to learn that person's name and report the matter to the bailiff or judge at the first opportunity.

Radio, Television and Newspaper Accounts

You must not read, view, or listen to any newspaper, radio, or television report of the trial. Each juror is to decide the case only on the evidence offered at trial and instructions of the court.

Talking with Parties or Lawyers or Others

The bailiff and other officers of the court are not permitted to talk to you about any subject in the trial, and you are not permitted to talk to them about it.

The attorneys are under a duty not to do anything that may seem improper. Therefore, at recesses and adjournments they will avoid saying anything to the jury except, perhaps, something like "Good morning" or "Good afternoon." In doing that, they do not mean to be unfriendly but are simply doing their best to avoid even an appearance, which might be misunderstood, that they or you are doing anything improper.

The same applies to parties and witnesses. They are to avoid all contacts with the jury, even to talk about matters wholly unrelated to the case.

Promptness

It is important that you are not late reporting for duty. One juror who is late wastes the time of all the other jurors, the judge, the lawyers, the witnesses, the parties, and other court employees. A lawyer, witness or juror may be fined for contempt of court for being tardy.