Case Name: STATE of Louisiana v. Vincent BARBER
Court: Louisiana Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Decision Date: 1998-04-24
Citations: 708 So. 2d 1054
Docket Number: No. 97-K-2749
Parties: STATE of Louisiana v. Vincent BARBER.
Judges: TRAYLOR, J., would deny writ.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 708
Pages: 1054–1054

Head Matter:
STATE of Louisiana v. Vincent BARBER.
No. 97-K-2749.
Supreme Court of Louisiana.
April 24, 1998.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM.
GRANTED IN PART, DENIED IN PART. This case is remanded to the district court for an evidentiary hearing to determine whether or to what extent the presence of alternate jurors in deliberations may have affected the outcome. Participation by alternates in deliberations is an extraneous influence on the jury representing a 'prima facie ease of prejudice requiring reversal. La. C.E. art. 606(B); State v. Howard, 573 So.2d 481 (La.1991); State v. Smith, 367 So.2d 857 (La.1979). Louisiana courts are "required to take evidence upon well-pleaded allegations of prejudicial juror miscon-duct_" State v. Graham, 422 So.2d 123, 131-132 (La.1982); State v. Horne, 679 So.2d 953, 958 (La.App. 2nd Cir. 8/21/96), writ denied, 688 So.2d 521 (La.2/21/97); State v. Sanders, 539 So.2d 114, 121 (La.App. 2nd Cir.), writ denied, 546 So.2d 1212 (La.1989); State v. Duncan, 563 So.2d 1269, 1272 (La.App. 1st Cir.1990). See also State v. Searile, 643 So.2d 455, 457-458 (La.App. 3rd Cir. 10/5/94). At the conclusion of the hearing, the trial court shall determine whether a new trial or other appropriate relief is required, reserving to the parties a right to seek review of the ruling.
TRAYLOR, J., would deny writ.
Lemmon, J., not on panel. See Rule IV, Part II, Sec. 3.