60-272. Contact with jurors; discussion of deliberations or verdict following discharge; informing jurors; violations, contempt. (a) On completion of a jury trial in a civil action and before the jury is discharged, the judge shall inform the jurors that they have an absolute right to discuss or not to discuss the deliberations or verdict with anyone except as provided in subsections (f) and (g). The judge shall also inform the jurors of the provisions set forth in subsections (b), (c), (d) and (e).

(b) Immediately following the discharge of the jury in a civil action, the defendant, or the defendant's attorney or representative, or the plaintiff, or the plaintiff's attorney or representative, may discuss the jury deliberations or verdict with a member of the jury only if the juror consents to the discussion.

(c) If a discussion of the jury deliberations or verdict with a member of the jury occurs at any time other than immediately following the discharge of the jury, prior to discussing the jury deliberations or verdict with a member of a jury, the defendant, or the defendant's attorney or representative, or the plaintiff, or the plaintiff's attorney or representative, shall inform the juror of the identity of the case, the party in the case that the person represents, the subject of the interview, the absolute right of the juror to discuss or not discuss the deliberations or verdict in the case with the person and the juror's right to review and have a copy of any declaration filed with the court.

(d) Any unreasonable contact with a juror by the defendant, or the defendant's attorney or representative, or by the plaintiff, or the plaintiff's attorney or representative, without the juror's consent shall be immediately reported to the trial court.

(e) Any violation of this section shall be considered a violation of a lawful court order and may be punished as contempt of court.

(f) Nothing in this section shall prohibit a law enforcement officer from discussing the deliberations or verdict with a member of the jury for the purpose of investigating an allegation of criminal conduct.

(g) Nothing in this section shall prohibit the court or a judge from discussing the deliberations or verdict with a member of the jury for any lawful purpose.

(h) This section shall be part of and supplemental to the code of civil procedure.

History: L. 2018, ch. 108, § 5; July 1.