Many judges conduct post-trial interviews of jurors in both civil and criminal cases.
While entirely permissible, and often-times productive, these conferences must be governed by certain cautionary guidelines. While judges may, and should, express appreciation to the jurors for their services, no expression of approval or disapproval concerning the verdict is appropriate. While generic discussions of jury duty are both allowable and encouraged, there can be no discussion regarding the merits of the case, facts, or evidence on which the jury deliberated. Conferences should, in general, be viewed by the court as an opportunity for jurors to express their concerns and offer their suggestions in the area of jury care and comfort. B. Attorney Interviews Attorneys frequently request post-trial interviews to learn how the jurors reacted to their presentation during trial and to explore whether the verdict is vulnerable to legal challenge.