Milwaukee judge makes 'runaway juror' pay fine
MILWAUKEE - The so-called "runaway juror" will have to pay a $300 fine after she evaded her responsibilities to fly to Mexico for vacation.
Ivana Samardzic left Milwaukee before a verdict was reached in a felony shooting case.
Instead of showing up for deliberations, she reportedly told a court clerk she was about to board a flight to Cancun, Mexico.
She claimed that she previously had left her verdict vote with the jury's foreperson.
Judge J.D. Watts treated the one-hour hearing as a trial, with evidence presented and Clerk of Court John Barrett taking the witness stand.
He then asked Samardzic, from Greenfield, why she left the country.
After explaining that English is her second language, she said, "I knew I had to face the consequences when I came back...I knew I was going to face (punishment) if it was a fine or jail time."
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