Opinion ID: 854025
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Inapplicability of the Statute

Text: The procedure for allowing jurors to review evidence and testimony during deliberations is governed by both statute and case law. The relevant statute provides: If, after the jury retires for deliberation: (1) there is a disagreement among the jurors as to any part of the testimony; or (2) the jury desires to be informed as to any point of law arising in the case; the jury may request the officer to conduct them into court, where the information required shall be given in the presence of, or after notice to, the parties or the attorneys representing the parties. IND.CODE § 34-36-1-6 (1998). [3] Although the statute refers to disagreements as to testimony, it has been construed by this Court in Powell v. State, 644 N.E.2d 855 (Ind.1994), to apply to audio tapes that are technically exhibits, as well as to requests dealing with witnesses' trial testimony. There is a division in the Court of Appeals on the issue whether the statute applies to requests relating to all forms of evidence. Compare Anglin v. State, 680 N.E.2d 883 (statute held to apply to request to review documentary exhibits) with Riggs v. State, 689 N.E.2d 460, 462 (Ind.Ct.App.1997) (requests to review exhibits, which are items of physical evidence, are never within the scope of the statute). Arguably a tape of an interview or event is sufficiently similar to testimony to require the same treatment even if not all evidence necessitates the presence of the parties to assure that it is not excessively or selectively used. Whatever the resolution of these issues, we recently held that the statute applies only to cases in which the jury explicitly indicated a disagreement. Bouye v. State, 699 N.E.2d 620, 628 (Ind. 1998). [4] Because the note in the instant case merely indicates what items the jury wanted to see and does not suggest any type of disagreement, under Bouye the statutory provision does not apply. Powell, to the extent it can be read to suggest or assume that the statute is triggered by any request after deliberations begin, has been clarified by Bouye on that issue.