Her case became significant because it set legal precedents in four areas of Canadian Law: it was the first case where a juror had sexual relations with a murder defendant during his trial; the only case where a juror has faced criminal sanction for the decision they have made; the only case in Canadian law where jury room discussions were made part of the public record. Regarding the sanctity of juror deliberations up until Guess was arrested, there was no law in Canada that made her actions illegal and moreover, the procedures used in her trial may have violated Guess' rights under the Canadian Charter. A portion of Guess' trial was closed to both her and the press and Guess' attorney was not allowed to discuss this portion of the trial with her. These restrictions may have violated Guess' right to counsel.