Cellphones in the Courtroom

           

Cellphones have become a big part in our day to day to lives. They have transformed from something used to only speak on the phone to something that we depend our social and personal lives on. Cellphones used to be bigger than a brick and now there have been phones that are as small as a credit card. They were originally created to connect people from far away places. They can be used internationally and locally. Now, cellphones connect people who even live in the same household. A cellphone gives an individual the ability to find information quickly and effectively. Since cellphones have become such an integrated part of our life they have also become very intrusive. Cellphone use during dinnertime has become a common sight to see; just like using a cellphone while you’re on the toilet has also become something everyone likes to do. During social occasions, individuals like to turn to their cellphones to avoid awkward situations. In one case that sent someone to jail for using a cellphone, was Mr. Benjamin Kohler.

            Mr. Benjamin Kohler was sent to jail for two days for using his cellphone during jury duty. Now, jury duty is something that can be long, boring, and unwanted. Many people who receive a summons for jury duty try to avoid it like the plague; a necessary evil you may call it. Although I don’t believe that using a cellphone during jury duty should have enough reason to send someone to jail. No one was put in danger. It was an action that although ill conceived did not affect anyone. Kohler could have received an emergency text from a friend or family member, which is maybe why he pulled his phone out. No one knows anything about Kohler’s personal life; he could have been going through something or needed to see his phone about a serious and urgent matter. Lets not forget that Kohler was forced to be in that courtroom. The judge didn’t question Kohler about why he pulled his phone out. I’m sure any juror member would know how important it is to hear everything about a case.

            Sending someone to jail for using a cellphone in a courtroom should not be punishable by law. I believe that the judge who sent Kohler to jail was taking advantage of all of the power that he had. No one should be able to do whatever he or she want regardless of which position in power they are in. The judge should not be allowed to send someone to jail on a whim. The judge doesn’t know anything about Kohler’s personal life. Kohler most likely has a job he has to go to or a family to provide for. Maybe he had an exam to take or a paper to submit. Those two days in jail could have caused Kohler a lot more trouble than it was worth. “Teaching someone a lesson” should not be something that the judge has power to do; if Kohler needs to be taught a lesson than his mother, not a stranger who thinks he can treat anyone badly, should reprimand him. I understand why the judge was upset over Kohler’s actions because jury duty is something that should be taken seriously; jurors are responsible for making decisions about a defendant’s future. Jurors should not let themselves become distracted because they are an important part of the case. The court is counting on jurors to be unbiased, responsible, and focused on the case they were summoned for. A courtroom requires that all of those who are present be respectable. I wouldn’t want to be a defendant with a juror who is paying attention to their cellphone. It can cause the case to be misconstrued.

            As important as jury duty is for the defendant and the prosecutor, no one should have to go to jail because they were on their cellphone. Hopefully this jail time, doesn’t end up on Mr. Kohler’s record; a simple mistake like that could ruin his entire life. Like Kohler, we are only human and simple mistakes like that shouldn’t affect the rest of our lives. Instead of acting quickly and hastily, the judge should have sat down with someone and talked about the decision he was making over Kohler’s actions. Its important to think about the consequences our actions has on the rest of our lives. Judges are not perfect; they are just as human and flawed as the rest of the world. Jailing a juror for using his cellphone in a courtroom is not an action punishable by law and Mr. Kohler should have never been sent to jail.