BAY MINETTE, Ala. — Baldwin County Circuit Judge Lang Floyd threatened jail time this morning for family members and friends of anyone involved in a trial who make comments outside the courtroom within juror earshot.

Floyd’s comments came prior to a lunch break in the trial of Robert Alexander Hertel, 30, of Gulf Shores who in charged in the Feb. 3, 2010, death of Jesse Cross during an altercation.

When jurors exited, Floyd told a court staffer to shut the door, and said statements have been reported “in two or three recent trials” that family members and friends have made comments in the halls and near snack machines in an attempt to influence jurors.

“I am telling you that you will not see this trial and will spend the rest of the week in the county jail if I hear anything has been said,” Floyd said.

“This is going on in the halls around jurors like someone is speaking to someone else. They are saying things like, ‘The jury is on break. The judge can now throw out this worthless case.’”

Prior to jury dismissal for lunch, Floyd also said some jurors had disobeyed directives to stay in the juror lounge on the second floor during breaks to avoid contact with witnesses, court staffers or anyone involved in the trial. Jurors are allowed to move freely on the first floor.

Opening statements in Hertel’s trial are scheduled to begin about 1:20 p.m. at the Baldwin County Courthouse in Bay Minette.