This isn’t in Minnesota but this is big news! Law360 reports…
A New York federal judge on Monday took the unprecedented step of allowing an ill juror to videoconference into deliberations in the U.S. sanctions trial of Iranian businessman Ali Sadr Hashemi Nejad, overruling prosecutors who said the arrangement could taint the case.
U.S. District Judge Alison Nathan in Manhattan made the decision amid the coronavirus pandemic after two jurors in the case reported feeling unwell. One was dismissed for cause during deliberations, while another was allowed to continue participating by video conference.
The judge overruled prosecutors who had moved for a mistrial rather than continuing with one juror joining in remotely.I’m not here to agree or disagree and I certainly can’t speak to the case but I still think this is a big deal – that people be able to participate in civic activity remotely. It removes the barrier of distance. It removes the barrier of mobility. BUT only for those who have adequate access to broadband.