Juror is accused of making Facebook trial comments and lying about it; contempt hearing scheduled
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A Florida juror will have to face a judge on June 20 to explain why he should not be held in contempt for allegedly posting comments on Facebook during a personal-injury trial and then denying he had done so.
Alexander Sutton, 24, of Boca Raton could face up to six months in jail if Judge Jack Cox finds him in contempt, report the Palm Beach Post and the Boca Raton Tribune. In his order, Cox said Sutton denied making the comments, even though lawyer Scott Smith had a printout in his hands.
Sutton was led from the courtroom in handcuffs and an alternate juror was tapped to take his place.
The comments have been removed from Sutton’s Facebook page. Smith wouldn’t divulge specifics, but he told the Palm Beach Post they suggested Sutton couldn’t be impartial. “In addition to expressing general disdain about jury service, he made very specific comments about the case itself,” Smith said.
Sutton didn’t respond to requests for an interview by the Palm Beach Post.
