Donte Curry, acquitted in 2023 on a murder charge but currently serving time on a separate drug conviction, sent a letter to at least five jurors from the Westville Correctional Facility after obtaining their personal information through a public records request.

News Release

FORT WAYNE — A Fort Wayne woman who served as a juror in a high-profile murder trial was recently contacted at her home by the man she helped judge, raising concerns about juror privacy and court document handling in Indiana.

Donte Curry, acquitted in 2023 on a murder charge but currently serving time on a separate drug conviction, sent a letter to at least five jurors from the Westville Correctional Facility after obtaining their personal information through a public records request.

Curry reportedly received names and addresses from a payment list mistakenly included in his case file by the Allen County Clerk’s Office. Prosecutors confirmed the information should have remained confidential.

The letter which reached one juror’s home, was described as criticizing the criminal justice system and a personal declaration of innocence. The recipient was left shaken and declined to speak publicly. Her husband said the incident undermined the trust jurors place in the system.

Allen County Prosecutor Mike McAlexander said the disclosure was not the result of a technical failure but rather human error.

The court system has safeguards to prevent the release of confidential material, McAlexander said, but the mistake highlighted a gap in document review procedures.

Juror selection in Indiana draws from statewide voter registration and Bureau of Motor Vehicles records. While juror names are known during the selection process, identifying information is generally kept confidential and protected under Indiana Jury Rules.

Luke Britt, legal counsel for Marion Superior Courts and the state’s former public access counselor, said said juror questionnaires and related documents are not accessible to the public.

In counties like Marion, those documents are retained only for appellate purposes. Jurors are increasingly referred to by number instead of name in court, a practice that officials say provides additional privacy and improves court records.

Marion Superior Court Judge Charles Miller said that use of numbers instead of names reassures jurors that their privacy is valued. Indiana Supreme Court spokesperson Kathryn Dolan said juror anonymity is not mandated but it is commonly adopted by courts across the state. No rule changes are currently under consideration.

While the release of juror information is rare, McAlexander said it is important to ensure such disclosures remain the exception.

Britt added that while human error can occur, every effort must be made to identify and redact sensitive data prior to releasing court records. He said court staff, judges and agencies take confidentiality seriously, and that a second set of eyes is often necessary when responding to access requests.

The incident has prompted broader discussion among legal professionals about the balance between transparency and privacy, particularly in high-profile cases. According to U.S. Courts, jurors in such trails often endure media scrutiny, potential threats and long-term stress.