A juror was removed from an armed robbery trial in Common Pleas Court yesterday after admitting to Judge Cheryl Allen that he had sent e-mails to a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reporter asking why he wouldn't be able to take notes during the case.

After the jury was selected but before testimony began, Allen subpoenaed Post-Gazette reporter Jim McKinnon when he refused the judge's request that he identify the juror. McKinnon wrote a story last week detailing how state courts would begin allowing jurors in criminal trials to take written notes if a case was expected to last longer than two days.

When the Post-Gazette notified the judge it would challenge the subpoena, Allen decided to interview jurors individually to see who had communicated with McKinnon.

The man who admitted he had e-mailed McKinnon was removed from the jury and replaced by an alternate.

Tywan Scurry, 30, of the Hill District, is charged with armed robbery at a neighborhood store.