Case Name: Daniel GAMBLE, Appellant, v. STATE of Florida, Appellee
Court: Florida District Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 1997-06-27
Citations: 696 So. 2d 420
Docket Number: No. 96-1923
Parties: Daniel GAMBLE, Appellant, v. STATE of Florida, Appellee.
Judges: W. SHARP, J., concurs.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 696
Pages: 420–420

Head Matter:
Daniel GAMBLE, Appellant, v. STATE of Florida, Appellee.
No. 96-1923.
District Court of Appeal of Florida, Fifth District.
June 27, 1997.
Stephen R. Jewett of Steven R. Jewett, Orlando, for Appellant.
Robert A. Butterworth, Attorney General, Tallahassee, and Anthony J. Golden, Assistant Attorney General, Daytona Beach, for Appellee.

Opinion:
DAUKSCH, Judge.
This is an appeal from a conviction in a criminal case.
Appellant was being tried for various nar-coties-related charges when one of the jurors became incapacitated and was excused. This left only five jurors to decide appellant's case. The case proceeded to verdict upon receiving a waiver of appellant's rights by his lawyer.
The accused was not informed by the court of his constitutionally mandated right to a six-person jury, nor was he consulted as to his wishes in that regard. Art. 1 § 22, Fla. Const.; Ballew v. Georgia, 435 U.S. 223, 98 S.Ct. 1029, 55 L.Ed.2d 234 (1978). That was error and a new trial is the only remedy. See Blair v. State, 667 So.2d 834 (Fla. 4th DCA), rev. granted, 680 So.2d 421 (Fla.1996).
W. SHARP, J., concurs.
PETERSON, C.J., concurs specially, with opinion.