Opinion ID: 2638813
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Excusing Jurors

Text: A trial court's determination to excuse a juror is reviewed on appeal for an abuse of discretion. See State v. Jones, 45 Haw. 247, 262, 365 P.2d 460, 468 (1961). This court has also stated, however, that [u]nless it patently appears that such discretion has been abused and that the defendant has not been given a fair trial resulting from the abuse, an appellate court will not interfere with the exercise of judicial discretion. Id. (holding that the court's sua sponte dismissal of a potential juror for cause without explanation was proper where the cause was obvious from the juror's responses to questioning during voir dire). Generally, to constitute an abuse[,] it must appear that the court clearly exceeded the bounds of reason or disregarded rules or principles of law or practice to the substantial detriment of a party litigant. State v. Gaylord, 78 Hawai`i 127, 144, 890 P.2d 1167, 1184 (1995) (quoting State v. Kumukau, 71 Haw. 218, 227-28, 787 P.2d 682, 688 (1990)).