SB 5101 - DIGEST

     Requires that, prior to discharging the jury from a case, the judge in a criminal or civil case shall inform the jurors that they have a right to discuss or not to discuss the deliberation or verdict with anyone.

     Provides that, following the discharge of the jury, the parties may discuss the jury deliberation or verdict with a member of the jury, provided that the juror consents to the discussion prior to leaving the courthouse.

     Does not prohibit a party from petitioning the court for access to jurors for the purpose of developing a motion for new trial or any other collateral attack on the verdict.

     Provides that upon the recording of a jury's verdict in a criminal or civil proceeding, the court's record of personal juror identifying information, including the jurors' addresses and telephone numbers, shall be sealed until further order of the court.

     Declares that any court employee who has legal access to former jurors' addresses or telephone numbers that have been sealed, who knowingly and in violation of a court order discloses the information, is guilty of a misdemeanor.

     Provides that any person who intentionally solicits another to unlawfully access or disclose juror information contained in records sealed, knowing that the records have been sealed, or who knowing that the information was unlawfully secured, intentionally discloses it to another person, is guilty of a misdemeanor.