Recording, listening to, or observing proceedings of grand or petit juries while deliberating or voting
Official text prohibited actmental stateif conditionpenaltylegal term
Whoever knowingly and , by any means or device whatsoever—
(a) records, or to record, the proceedings of any grand or petit jury in any court of the United States while such jury is deliberating or voting; or
(b) listens to or observes, or to listen to or observe, the proceedings of any grand or petit jury of which he is not a member in any court of the United States while such jury is deliberating or voting—
shall be or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.
Nothing in paragraph (a) of this section shall be construed to prohibit the taking of notes by a grand or petit juror in any court of the United States in connection with and solely for the purpose of assisting him in the performance of his duties as such juror.
History: (Added Aug. 2, 1956, ch. 879, §1, 70 Stat. 935; amended Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, §330016(1)(H), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147 (PDF, 52 MB); Pub. L. 104–294, title VI, §601(f)(13), Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3500.)
Simplified explanation
It is a federal crime to knowingly and willfully record a federal grand jury or trial jury while it is deliberating or voting, or to listen to or watch one you are not a member of, or to try to do either. Jurors may still take notes to help with their own duties.