Opinion ID: 78313
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: Exposure to Limited Portions of Media Coverage

Text: During the hearing, Jurors 7, 22, and 40 revealed that they had inadvertently experienced limited exposure to some media coverage during the trial. These jurors testified that, despite their best efforts, they had overheard snippets of television coverage or seen headlines regarding the case in newspapers or online. The court found that such limited, inadvertent exposure was not surprising given the intense media scrutiny of the trial. The court further found that the jurors' testimony was especially credible since it was clear to it that the jurors felt compelled to disclose even the most incidental and inadvertent exposure to extrinsic information. Juror 22 testified that she would leave the room or mute the television when the news came on, and Jurors 7 and 40, who saw headlines, testified that they did not read the accompanying stories prior to the verdict. The court also found that there was no evidence that the jury discussed any media reports prior to the verdict. Our review of the record supports these findings and the district court's conclusion that the exposure of these jurors to media reports about the trial was harmless. In view of the limited and incidental nature of this exposure and the substantial evidence of defendants' guilt on the counts of conviction, we hold that the district court did not abuse its discretion in denying the defendants a new trial for this reason.