Fed. Twitter rules - illegal?

Today's Associated Press (AP) article in the Northwest Herald is a highly edited version of the entire AP article. A lengthy article can be viewed at www.federalnewsradio.com/index.php?nid=29&sid=1905505

I agree with that part of the Federal pronouncement that jurors should not add to their knowledge of a case through media and other information resources. Jurors are so admonished at the beginning of trials.

But they are also apparently barred from social media - period!

From the AP article: "You may not use any electronic device or media" in connection with the case, the recommended federal instructions admonish. They also bar visits to "any Internet chat room, blog, or website such as Facebook, My Space, LinkedIn, YouTube or Twitter."

If this means that a juror cannot go to Facebook or the others for non-trial information or correspondence, then the Federal rules are wrong. If that's what they mean, then this invades freedom of speech, liberty and pursuit of happiness.

If jurors inadvertently come across anything pertaining to the trial, then they should immediately leave that site or message. The ethical thing to do would be to report it to the judge and explain any very limited exposure they had to someone's comment. Merely seeing the name of a person involved in a case and ceasing access should not endanger their status on the jury.

In the same way as should a family member, co-worker, neighbor or another person begin to mention the trial, the jury member must immediately interrupt and excuse himself from that conversation.

Does anyone know more about the Federal bar against Facebook/Twitter, etc.?