The Sheriff's office allowed visitors access to the jury while they were sequestered

[COLGATE4]

190. It hasn't been posited that it is normal

for sequestered jurors to have unsupervised time during their service. I (and others) have said that it isn't unusual. The fact that the entire state of New Jersey has now made it their law (not 'guidelines') is an indication that unsupervised sequestered jurors isn't a problem. In fact New York State, which currently has the toughest rules for obligatory sequestration has completed a study which shows that there is no genuine reason for having sequestered juries in the first place. The study found no stastical difference in mistrials caused by juror misconduct between sequestered and non-sequestered juries. As for your latter point, you realize that, unless it's a very sensational case the mechanics of how the jury functioned aren't published. Sequestration is a practice that is not much in vogue these days - it's hard on the jurors and is also very costly. However a judge will almost be forced to order it if there's any indication that the lack of doing so will be used to appeal the verdict.