Opinion ID: 2372783
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: excusing a juror from the regular panel

Text: Following the lunch break on the first day of trial, one of the jurors, John Yoblonski, informed the court that he was acquainted with a potential witness. Yoblonski explained that while standing in the hallway during recess, he had recognized Officer Santos. The juror had approached Santos and had learned that he was going to testify in this case. The court questioned the juror about his relationship with Santos. Yoblonski said that he did not know the officer very well and that he had not seen him in three years. He added that he would not give any undue preference to the officer's testimony. The court then questioned Santos, who confirmed Yoblonski's statements. Santos added that Yoblonski had asked whether he should bring their acquaintance to the court's attention and that he, Santos, had suggested that Yoblonski notify the sheriff. The court then excused Yoblonski from the jury and substituted one of two alternates who had been chosen prior to trial. The defendant objected and now appeals from that ruling. Section 51-243 (a) of the General Statutes authorizes the trial court in a civil case to add two jurors to the jury panel to serve as alternate jurors. Section 51-243 (d) provides that [i]f, at any time, any juror shall, for any reason, become unable to further perform his duty, the court may excuse him and substitute an alternate juror as part of the regular panel. The determination of whether a juror is unable to perform his or her duty is committed to the trial court's sound discretion. The right of the court, in a proper exercise of discretion, to discharge or reject a juror, of its own motion, for good cause, is generally recognized and obviously salutary. State v. Parker, 112 Conn. 39, 56-57, 151 A. 325 (1930); see Bluett v. Eli Skating Club, 133 Conn. 99, 105, 48 A.2d 557 (1946); McCarten v. Connecticut Co., 103 Conn. 537, 543, 131 A. 505 (1925). Although the trial court did not explicitly state its reasons for excusing the juror, the record provides ample evidence of the court's considerations: the trial was in its first day; only two witnesses had been heard, and most of that testimony, all of which was heard by the alternates, related to the admissibility of illustrative evidence; the juror in question knew the officer well enough to approach him in the hallway despite not having seen him in three years; the juror asked for and followed the officer's advice about reporting their relationship to the court. In reviewing claims that the trial court abused its discretion the unquestioned rule is that great weight is due to the action of the trial court and every reasonable presumption should be given in favor of its correctness; the ultimate issue is whether the court could reasonably conclude as it did.... Jacobsen v. Jacobsen, 177 Conn. 259, 263, 413 A.2d 854 (1979); see Maltbie, supra, § 59. From our review of the record we cannot say that the trial court abused its discretion in excusing the juror. There is no error.