Curiosity kills juror's checkbook

[TexasStooge]

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A juror whose curiosity caused a mistrial was handed down a stern 15-minute lecture from a judge who found her in contempt of court.

Franklin County Municipal Judge Teresa Liston accepted an apology and repayment of $1,198 in court costs from Fasanthia Wilkerson.

Wilkerson, 48, was accused of disobeying the judge's order not to conduct outside investigations by driving past the site of a contested traffic stop before deliberations.

"I just want to make it perfectly clear that you are not the victim in this case," Liston told Wilkerson. "Whether you did it intentionally or negligently, you did it."

Wilkerson had said she wanted to see if a club mentioned in testimony was one she used to go to in her youth, so she drove down the street where the traffic stop occurred on her way from and to the courthouse.

She mentioned the detour to fellow jurors, and the jury foreman sent a note to Liston, who declared a mistrial.

"Nobody in the history of my entire legal career has violated this instruction," said Liston, a judge for 14 years.

Christopher Hurd, acting as his own attorney in the traffic case, "left this courtroom disappointed, with no confidence in the jury system," Liston said. He has since pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of reckless operation.