A jury is sometimes sequestered in a hotel under the court’s direct supervision in highly charged and media-intensive criminal prosecutions
Isolating a jury during all aspects of the trial, usually by providing all living and eating accommodations for the jury under court deputy supervision, is jury sequestration.
Sequestering requires that the jury and its “alternates” (usually three replacement jurors) be excluded from all print and digital media forms.
The trial by jury’s primary goal is to ensure a juror’s independent judgment, free from all out-of-court, accidental, or intentional influences that can sway or prejudice a juror’s ability to be impartial and prejudice-free.
The singular goal is for the jury to judge only the facts and the law presented inside the courtroom. This is especially important when a case attracts intense media coverage, such as in the George Floyd case.
As much as possible, all phases of the trial must be free from any outside influences, including unsupervised communication with family and friends concerning the case.
