Local Rule LR47.1: Research on Jurors or Prospective Jurors.

LR47.1. Research on Jurors or Prospective Jurors.

(a) Except as authorized by the court, attorneys, parties, witnesses, and their respective representatives may not initiate contact with any juror concerning any case in which that juror was summoned to appear.

(b) Attorneys may use websites available to the public, including social media websites, for juror or prospective juror research, provided:

(1) The website or information is available and accessible to the public and not the result of an attorney's own social media account;

(2) The attorney does not send an access request to a juror's social media accounts;

(3) No direct communication or contact occurs between the attorney and a juror or prospective juror as a result of the research, including, but not limited to Facebook "friend" requests, Twitter or Instagram "follow" requests, LinkedIn "connections" requests, or other forms of internet and social media contact;

(4) Social media research is done anonymously. A search on a social media site must not disclose to the juror or prospective juror the identity of the party who is making the inquiry; and

(5) Deception is not used to gain access to any website or to obtain any information.

(c) Third parties working for the benefit of or on behalf of any attorney must comply with all the same restrictions as set forth above for attorneys.

(d) If an attorney becomes aware of a juror's case-related posting on the internet while the case remains pending in this court, the attorney shall report the posting to the court.