Federal appeals court says juror can seek 'divine guidance' during deliberations Follow Us Question of the Day By Alex Swoyer - The Washington Times - Monday, May 10, 2021 A federal circuit court reversed a judge’s decision to dismiss a juror who sought divine guidance from the Holy Spirit during deliberations and told fellow jurors he was told by the higher power that the defendant was innocent. The 7-4 ruling from the full 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals allows for a new trial for the defendant, former Rep. Corrine Brown, a Florida Democrat who was convicted and served prison time for a conspiracy and fraud scheme involving a bogus scholarship charity.