Opinion ID: 1099739
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 18

Heading: Whether the trial court erred in denying appellants' motion for mistrial for alleged jury misconduct.

Text: ś 75. The brothers next argue that the trial court erred in denying a motion for mistrial for alleged jury misconduct and interrogation by the bailiff. ś 76. The grant of a mistrial is left to the discretion of the trial judge. Washington v. State, 800 So.2d 1140, 1143 (Miss. 2001). The standard of review for denial of a motion for mistrial is abuse of discretion. Pulphus v. State, 782 So.2d at 1222 (citations omitted); Hoops v. State, 681 So.2d 521 (Miss.1996); Johnson v. State, 666 So.2d at 794. The failure to grant a mistrial is considered an error only where there is a determination of an abuse of discretion by the trial judge otherwise the decision will not be disturbed on appeal. Madere v. State, 794 So.2d 200, 218 (Miss. 2001); Bass v. State, 597 So.2d at 191. ś 77. [T]he party contending there is juror misconduct must make an adequate showing to overcome the presumption in this state of jury impartiality. Gladney v. Clarksdale Beverage Co., 625 So.2d 407, 418-19 (Miss.1993). [W]henever there is a question concerning outside influencing of a jury, the trial judge himself ought to examine the jury carefully to ensure that the jury's deliberations are based on the evidence produced at trail and not extraneous matters. Williamson v. State, 512 So.2d 868, 882 (Miss.1987) (overruled on other grounds). ś 78. On November 11, 1999, closing arguments were given and the jury retired for the evening. The next morning the judge informed counsel that the bailiff had contacted her and told her that three jurors were talking on the telephone. The telephones were disconnected to the outside; however, guests still had the ability to make room-to-room calls. The light for the telephone of a room shows up at the front desk. The lights did not indicate with whom someone was speaking, but rather, it showed that the telephone light was on in a room. The judge informed counsel that Juror Rowland appeared to be on the phone 10-15 minutes, Juror Hawkins was on the phone 5-10 minutes and Juror Jones appeared to be on the phone 15-20 minutes. The bailiff went to the three jurors rooms and inquired about the calls. ś 79. Upon hearing about these events, the brothers requested a mistrial based upon the communications between the jurors, which was contrary to the admonishments of the court, and had the resulting potential for prejudice. The trial court stated that it would speak to the jurors prior to ruling on the mistrial. ś 80. The three jurors were questioned by the judge. Rowland stated that he spoke to Hawkins on the bus to the hotel. Hawkins told Rowland she did not have anything to wear except a thin T-shirt for the next day. That night Rowland called Hawkins to inform her that he had a Nautica pullover for her to wear the next day. Rowland denied speaking to Hawkins about the case. Rowland stated he was on the phone less than a minute. When questioned about the light being on for 10-15 minutes, Rowland stated that perhaps he had not hung up the telephone properly. ś 81. Hawkins stated that Rowland called and told her that he had a shirt for her to wear. Hawkins did not discuss anything else with Rowland. She thought that they were on the telephone less than two minutes. When questioned about the telephone light being on for 5-10 minutes, Hawkins stated that she did not look at a watch, but that she did not think she was on the telephone for that long of a period. It was noted in the record that Hawkins was wearing the same type of shirt described by Rowland. ś 82. Jones stated that she did not know who had called her room. However, the caller was not a jury member, but rather someone who had seen Jones in the hallway. Jones told the person that she could not talk and hung up the telephone. The telephone kept ringing, and Jones then took the telephone off the hook. ś 83. Based on the jurors' testimony the trial court denied the motion for mistrial. The trial court stated that it viewed the demeanor of all the three jurors. As to Rowland and Hawkins, the trial court found that their testimony corroborated one another and Hawkins was wearing the shirt described by Rowland. As to Jones, the trial court found her testimony to be credible. In addition, the bailiff told the court that she observed that the telephone was off the hook upon entering Jones's room. ś 84. The State maintains that the brothers did not assert an objection as to the bailiffs communication at trial. Rather the objection was for the jurors communication and not for the bailiffs questioning the jurors. In the alternative, the State submits that the bailiffs inquiry did not unduly influence the jury. Further, the record supports the trial court's denial of the mistrial. Again, the trial judge is in the best position to determine whether the jury as selected was fair and impartial, and thus its ruling should not be disturbed on appeal unless that decision is clearly in error. Fleming v. State, 687 So.2d 146, 148 (Miss.1997). The trial judge questioned each witness and determined that the communication did not concern the trial, no abuse of discretion occurred under these facts. Accordingly, this issue is without merit.