United States v. Michael Piancone

OPINION OF THE COURT

WEIS, Circuit Judge.

The day has long passed when jurors were sent to deliberate upon their verdict and were “kept without meat, drink, fire or candle,” until they reached a verdict. 1 This case involves a related question in a more modern context, and that is whether jurors in a criminal case may be permitted to return to their homes overnight during the period of their deliberations. On the facts of this case, we hold that the trial judge did not abuse his discretion when he permitted the jury to disperse after their deliberations had begun.

Defendant was convicted of…