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Document A-5828

AI Analysis

Summary: The deponent, Berke, discusses their obligations as an attorney and officer of the court, stating they would report juror misconduct after verifying their duties through research. Berke emphasizes the importance of consulting the rules before acting on such information.
Significance: This deposition reveals the attorney's understanding of their obligations when encountering potential juror misconduct and their process for verifying their duties.
Key Topics: attorney obligations reporting juror misconduct professional ethics
Key People:
  • Berke - attorney being deposed
  • Susan Brune - attorney who shared information with Berke

Full Text

C2rdau4 Berke - cross 371 1 other obligations. I never will act on a piece of information 2 that I think invokes my duties as an advocate for my client as 3 well as an officer of the court without first looking at the 4 rules. I will read the rules. 5 As we all know, at times you will read the rules, they 6 will be absolutely clear what my obligations are. Sometimes 7 they will be less clear and we will research it. That's what I 8 do. I never act on information until I do that, and I've never 9 done that on that issue. That's what I can tell you. 10 Q. I don't think you answered my question, though. Can you 11 answer the question that I asked? If you form a belief as an 12 attorney in a courtroom that a juror has engaged in misconduct, 13 do you have to bring that to the attention of the court? 14 A. What I can tell you is if I had confronted that issue -- 15 Q. Is this another one that you can't answer yes or no? 16 A. I'm going to answer your question. 17 Q. Would you do that. 18 A. I will. What I will tell you is my reaction to that 19 information if I confronted it would be that I believe I have 20 an obligation to tell the court. Before I did anything, 21 though, I would do exactly what I said. I would look at the 22 rule, look at the law, and make sure I was complying with all 23 my obligations. 24 Q. Did Susan Brune explain to you why she felt it important to 25 bring the information to your attention that her firm had SOUTHERN DISTRICT REPORTERS, P.C. (212) 805-0300 DOJ-OGR-00010111