Back to School: Judge Sentences Juror to Essay Assignment for Facebook Gaffe

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REUTERS/Thierry Roge

Three weeks ago, Hadley Jons was wallowing in a defendant’s potential demise on her social networking account. Now, Jons has received her own sentence, which includes some heavy writing.

The AP reports that the Detroit-area juror caught using her Facebook status to comment on a verdict was sentenced to a $250 fine.

Jons’ Aug. 11 profile read “gonna be fun to tell the defendant they’re GUILTY.” Even though the defendant was eventually found to be guilty, Jons’ decision was a potent mix of immature and premature. The AP writes that the infraction was discovered by a member of the defense team’s 17-year-old son, prior to that side’s chance to testify.

“I’m sorry, very sorry,” the 20-year-old told Macomb County Circuit Judge Diane Druzinski on Friday. Jons had no further comment outside of the court’s chambers.

The money is only one of two steps Jons will take to make amends for her miscue. In addition to paying the aforementioned fee, the wire service reports that the former juror must also deliver a five-page essay. The subject: the importance of the 6th amendment of the Constitution, which insures a person’s right to a fair trial.

Jons is expected to submit her paper directly to the court — not via Facebook status, chat, message, wall, group, like or other Facebook-friendly modes of sharing content.