Legal Definitions - imbracery

Imbracery refers to the illegal act of attempting to influence a jury or a juror's decision through improper means, outside of the formal courtroom proceedings. This can involve bribery, threats, promises, or any other form of corrupt persuasion aimed at swaying a juror's judgment in a legal case. It is a serious offense because it undermines the fairness and impartiality of the justice system, which relies on jurors making decisions based solely on the evidence presented in court.

Here are some examples to illustrate imbracery:

• Example 1: Attempted Bribery of a Juror

  During a high-profile corporate fraud trial, an associate of the defendant secretly approaches one of the jurors in a coffee shop during a lunch break. The associate offers the juror a substantial sum of money in exchange for voting "not guilty" when the jury deliberates.

  This scenario clearly illustrates imbracery because an attempt is made to corruptly influence a juror's decision through a monetary bribe, occurring outside the legitimate legal process and intending to subvert justice.

• Example 2: Intimidation of a Juror

  In a criminal case involving organized crime, a family member of the accused sends anonymous, threatening letters to a juror's home, implying harm to the juror's family if a guilty verdict is returned.

  This is an act of imbracery because it involves using intimidation and threats to improperly influence a juror's decision, thereby compromising the integrity and impartiality of the trial.

• Example 3: Improper Persuasion Outside Court

  A defendant in a civil lawsuit discovers that a distant acquaintance is serving on the jury for their case. The defendant then arranges a casual meeting with this acquaintance, ostensibly to "catch up," but during the conversation, subtly attempts to present their side of the case in a favorable light and downplay the opposing arguments, hoping to sway the juror's opinion.

  Even without direct bribery or threats, this constitutes imbracery because the defendant is attempting to improperly persuade a juror outside of the courtroom and the evidence presented in court, thereby interfering with the juror's impartial duty to decide the case based solely on the trial proceedings.