If the jury are permitted to separate, either during the trial or after the case is submitted to them, they shall be admonished by the court that it is their duty not to conduct research, disseminate information, or converse with, or permit themselves to be addressed by, any other person on any subject of the trial, and that it is their duty not to form or express an opinion thereon until the case is finally submitted to them. The court shall clearly explain, as part of the admonishment, that the prohibition on research, dissemination of information, and conversation applies to all forms of electronic and wireless communication.
§ 611.Admonishment to Jury By Court If Jury Separates During Trial Or After Case Submitted
Title 8. Of the Trial and Judgment In Civil Actions · Chapter 4. Trial by Jury · Article 2. Conduct of the Trial · Last amended 2012 · Last verified July 28, 2026
In one sentenceSection 611 requires the court to admonish a jury permitted to separate, whether during trial or after submission, that jurors must not research, disseminate information, or discuss the case with anyone, or form or express an opinion before final submission, and to explain that this admonishment covers all forms of electronic and wireless communication.
Full Text of § 611
Plain-English Summary
Whenever a jury is allowed to separate — during the trial itself or after the case has already been submitted to them — the court has to admonish them about their duties in the meantime. Jurors must not conduct research, share information, or converse with or be addressed by anyone about any subject connected to the trial, and they must not form or express an opinion on the case until it's finally submitted for their decision.
Modern technology gets explicit attention. The court must clearly explain, as part of this admonishment, that the ban on research, information-sharing, and conversation covers every form of electronic and wireless communication — texting, browsing, social media, and anything else along those lines, not just conversations in person.
Frequently Asked Questions
When must the court give this admonishment?
Whenever the jury is permitted to separate, either during the trial or after the case has been submitted to them.
What are jurors told not to do?
Conduct research, disseminate information, or converse with or be addressed by anyone on any subject of the trial, and form or express an opinion before final submission.
Does this cover texting or social media?
Yes. Section 611 requires the court to clearly explain that the prohibition applies to all forms of electronic and wireless communication.
Amendment History
Amended by Stats 2011 ch 181 (AB 141),s 1, eff. 1/1/2012.
Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from
the Deering's California Codes Annotated / vLex. Enacted by the California Legislature.
Last verified July 28, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: jury admonishment californiajuror social media prohibition