Jodi Arias Trial Update Today: Jodi Arias Tells Twitter She’s Selling ‘Free Jodi’ Wristbands To Cover Appeals Costs; Arias Still on Twitter In Spite of Juror Restrictions

Jodi Arias Trial Update Today HLN: Jodi Arias has taken to Twitter to sell "Free Jodi" wristbands that Arias hopes will pay for her appeal. While she's in prison, Jodi is forbidden from accessing cell phones or computers, but Arias is still using Twitter to raise money.

Jodi Arias informed her 79,092 Twitter followers that she is selling wristbands to help pay her appeals costs. Arias took to Twitter to say that "The only wristbands that are legit and that I endorse are the white ones being sold at jodispage.com." The "Free Jodi" cost $25 and read either "Justice4Jodi.com" or "Free Jodi." According to jodiespage.com says "Every purchase is...a pledge...towards the fight for Jodi's freedom."

Jodi Arias was found guilty of the murder of Travis Alexander in May. The jury found the former waitress eligible for the death penalty, but could not agree whether to sentence her to death of life behind bars.  The second phase of the Jodi Arias trial is the penalty phase, having already been convicted of killing Travis Alexander. Under Arizona law, a death sentence can only be imposed by a jury, so the penalty phase of the Jodi Arias will be retried. If a new jury sentences Jodi Arias to death in the penalty phase of the trial, her case can be be appealed all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. If the Judge Stephens or a jury sentences Jodi Arias to life in prison, the case can be appealed as far as the Arizona Supreme Court.

Jodi Arias has taken to Twitter to ask for donations for her appeals fund at Justice4Jodi.com. On Oct. 10 Jodi Arias tweeted "That rumor that somehow my family profited from my trial? Absurd. I'm filing for bankruptcy (if I can ever afford to do so)."

The Justice4Jodi.com site said: "This trust is for payment of the beneficiary's legal expenses related to the appeals of her pending criminal case, including, without limitation, attorney fees, investigator fees, expert-witness fees, and transcript filing fees." The site also notes that donations are not tax deductible.

It's unclear how Jodi is using Twitter from jail, but Arias regularly posts to Twitter even though she is locked up in the Estrella jail in Maricopa County. She used Twitter to deny claims by her cellmate that she vowed to kill prosecutor Juan Martinez if she was sentenced to death. She said   "To comment on the babblings of a lunatic is lunacy itself. (oops)."

Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Sherry Stephens denied a motion that would have required jurors for the Jodi Arias re-trial to disclose their Twitter accounts. Lawyers for Jodi Arias argued that jurors need to reveal their Twitter handles so they could be monitored for any inappropriate comments or communication with each other on the case.

Jodi Arias Judge Stephens banned the use of all electronic devices inside the courtroom. Reporters covering the Jodi Arias trial won't be able to use Twitter. The judge also rule that there will be no live television coverage of Jodi Arias' penalty phase retrial.

The Jodi Arias Judge wrote: "The court can find no legal authority supporting an order that all jurors provide their Twitter account information to the court. Access to social media and a particular juror's frequent use of social media may be appropriate topics for jury selections. The parties may include questions in the jury questionnaire regarding use of social media and whether a juror is willing to cease or limit accessing social media during the trial. This information may assist the parties in discovering concerns about prospective jurors. There is no lawful basis for the court or parties to investigate or monitor jurors absent a credible allegation that juror misconduct has occurred. If a juror is inclined to violate the court's admonition (provided orally during court proceedings and in writing in the preliminary Jury instructions given to each juror), there are numerous ways such a violation could occur. Requiring jurors to provide Twitter account information would not limit or reduce in any meaningful way the possibility that a juror will be exposed to extraneous information about the case or assist in preventing or proving a violation of the court's admonition. Further, informing jurors they are required to provide information about their social media accounts may result in a prospective juror refusing to participate as a juror on the case because he or she deem such a requirement to be a violation of his or her privacy rights. The court will not presume juror misconduct will occur. The court will not require all jurors to provide their social media account information to the court." 

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