Opinion ID: 884478
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Current Jury Room

Text: Judge Wilson found that Department II's existing jury room is small in size, windowless, has no ventilation and the toilet facilities are in close proximity both to each other and to where the jurors deliberate. He further noted that the jury room is in close proximity to Judge Moran's chambers, which presents a problem for hearings out of the jury's presence, and that the room also serves as Orenstein's office and mediation room and as a storage room for files and supplies. On those bases, Judge Wilson ultimately found that the current jury room is totally unsuitable for use as Department II's jury room. As the following discussion illustrates, the record is replete with evidence supporting the underlying findings and Judge Wilson's ultimate finding that Department II's existing jury room is unsuitable. Judge Moran testified that the existing jury room is very small and is extremely cramped because it contains a table, thirteen chairs, a small refrigerator, a large storage cabinet, three file cabinets, a copy machine and a computer work station. He stated that [Department] II has lived on the edge of mistrial for many years as a result of the inadequate jury room facilities and people who have served as Department II jurors have expressed their dissatisfaction with the jury room. Judge Moran further testified that the jury room is only separated from his chambers by two doors, which creates the potential for jurors to overhear arguments held out of the jury's presence. He also was concerned because the jury room bathrooms are not handicapped-accessible and, therefore, do not meet ADA standards. Judge Gary testified that the jury room is too small and is not soundproof. In this latter regard, Judge Gary had no doubt that he could have heard the jurors' discussions as they deliberated. In a similar vein, Orenstein testified that, due to the lack of soundproofing, she could hear jurors' discussions when standing in the hall outside the jury room. She was concerned about the public's ability to overhear jurors. Several individuals who previously had served as jurors for Department II testified regarding the inadequacy of the current facilities. Sally Brown found the jury room extremely uncomfortable and not conducive to clear thinking. She stated that the most uncomfortable aspect of the jury room was the close proximity of the bathrooms and the lack of privacy. Matilda King testified that the jury room looked like a temporary thing. In addition, there was so little space that jurors could not all sit around the table and some jurors had to sit behind other jurors during deliberations. We conclude that Judge Wilson's finding that Department II's existing jury room is totally unsuitable is supported by substantial credible evidence and is not otherwise clearly erroneous.