Judge Was Wrong to Remove Foulmouthed Juror, Court Says

The Court of Appeals of Georgia has ruled that a jury foreman should not have been removed from a case for telling jurors to "go to hell" during deliberations, and has granted the defendant a new trial. "While we certainly do not condone the use of vulgar or coarse language among jurors, 'total placidity is not in the nature of jury deliberation'," Judge Debra H. Bernes wrote, quoting an 8th Circuit decision. Bernes said handling heightened tensions in the jury room is part of the job for a juror.

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