Title 18, Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-110
§1508 Recording, Listening To, or Observing Proceedings of Grand or Petit Juries While Deliberating or Voting
Title 18 › PART I — CRIMES › CHAPTER 73 — OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE › § 1508
Summary
It's illegal for someone who is not a juror to knowingly and on purpose record, try to record, listen to, or watch a federal grand or petit jury while it is deliberating or voting, by any method or device. A person who does this can be fined, jailed for up to one year, or both. A juror may still take notes to help them do their juror duties.
Full Legal Text
Title 18, §1508
Crimes and Criminal Procedure, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Whoever knowingly and willfully, by any means or device whatsoever—
(a)records, or attempts to record, the proceedings of any grand or petit jury in any court of the United States while such jury is deliberating or voting; or
(b)listens to or observes, or attempts to listen to or observe, the proceedings of any grand or petit jury of which he is not a member in any court of the United States while such jury is deliberating or voting—
shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both. Nothing in paragraph (a) of this section shall be construed to prohibit the taking of notes by a grand or petit juror in any court of the United States in connection with and solely for the purpose of assisting him in the performance of his duties as such juror.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1996—Pub. L. 104–294 realigned margins for provisions beginning “shall be fined” and ending “one year, or both.” 1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $1,000” in par. following par. (b).
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
18 U.S.C. § 1508
Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Last Updated
Sep 22, 2026
Release point: 119-110