Juror must write 5-page essay for posting comment on Facebook about case

MOUNT CLEMENS, Mich. (WXYZ) - Hadley Jons likely won't be getting a Facebook friend request from Macomb County Circuit Court Judge Diane Druzinski.

The judge held a contempt of court hearing today for the 20-year-old from Warren who wrote on her Facebook page "actually excited for jury duty tomorrow. It's gonna be fun to tell the defendant they're GUILTY."

The incident happened in August. Jons got thrown off the jury, and the judge hauled her into court today saying she violated her oath to be a fair and impartial juror when she decided the defendant was guilty before she heard all the evidence.

"You denied the defendant a fundamental right to be presumed innocent until a unanimous verdict was returned," Druzinski told Jons today.

The judge asked Jons if she had anything to say, and the response was even shorter than her Facebook post.

"Just that I'm sorry, very sorry," Jons said.

The judge said it's fortunate that the posting came to light before Jons actually participated in any deliberations.

"That's why this is such a big deal," Druzinksi said. "You had already decided that she was guilty before you even heard the other half of the story."

The judge ordered Jons to write a 5-page essay on the history of a defendant's 6th amendment right to a fair and impartial jury, and how this incident has shaped her view of that right. The essay is due October 1st. Jons must also pay $250 in court costs. If she takes care of the essay and the money, the civil contempt will be erased from her record.

After the hearing, Jons and her attorney took off faster than it takes to post a Facebook update, with Jons declining to comment.

Jons was on a jury last month in the case of a woman accused of resisting arrest. That woman's attorney, Saleema Sheikh, tells Action News today that Jons should have been ordered to write the essay while sitting in a jail cell.