Opinion ID: 853291
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Sleepy Juror

Text: The defendant contends that a sleeping juror violated his rights to fair trial and trial by jury, and that the trial court's private message to the juror without notifying counsel impinged on his right to counsel. These issues were raised by the defendant's motion to correct error, supported by a post-trial affidavit in which juror M.S. stated that he nodded off asleep at times during the trial. Record at 29. The juror seated next to M.S. stated in her affidavit that she observed him fall asleep and would wake him by nudging him with her arm or knee. Record at 31. The trial court denied the motion to correct error. To prevail on a claim of juror misconduct through inattentiveness, the defendant must demonstrate that the juror was actually inattentive and that the juror's inattention resulted in actual prejudice. Chubb v. State, 640 N.E.2d 44, 48 (Ind.1994); Whiting v. State, 516 N.E.2d 1067, 1068 (Ind.1987). The trial court determined that the defendant failed to meet either prong: The defendant has failed to demonstrate either element of the test. While [M.S.] may have nodded off asleep at times during the trial there is no indication or evidence of what specific times or how long he was asleep. There is evidence that when [M.S.] would nod off; he would be awakened by juror # 5, which leads the Court to believe the juror would nod off for only brief moments of time. Further, the Court only noticed one occasion of inattentiveness during a bench conference; and not during the presentation of any evidence. Defense counsel nor the defendant noticed any instances of inattentiveness during the trial, as [defense counsel] first learned of this issue after being contacted by appellate counsel. Further, defendant nor defense counsel raised this issue at anytime during the trial. Record at 166. The record supports the findings of the trial court, and we discern no abuse of discretion in the denial of the motion to correct errors on the issue of juror inattentiveness. The defendant's related claim is that the trial court erred in denying his motion to correct error alleging improper communication between the judge and the somnolent juror. During the trial, the judge sent a note by way of the bailiff to M.S. advising him to stay awake and pay attention. Record at 167. The judge took this action without the parties' knowledge. The defendant does not object to the content of the communication but that it was done without notice to and input from the parties. He argues that timely notice would have enabled him to request voir dire of the juror to determine whether portions of the evidence had been missed. Control and management of the jury is generally committed to the trial court's discretion. Rogers v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., 745 N.E.2d 793, 795 (Ind. 2001); Norton v. State, 273 Ind. 635, 661, 408 N.E.2d 514, 531 (1980). We have recognized in the context of allowing jurors to take notes during the trial that the trial court has a duty to ensure that jurors pay attention to all the evidence in the case. Stephenson v. State, 742 N.E.2d 463, 477 (Ind.2001). Although an ex parte communication may create a presumption of error, such a presumption is rebuttable and does not constitute per se grounds for reversal. Bouye v. State, 699 N.E.2d 620, 628 (Ind.1998). In deciding whether the presumption of harm has been rebutted, we evaluate the nature of the communication to the jury and the effect it might have had upon a fair determination. Smith v. Convenience Store Distrib. Co., 583 N.E.2d 735, 738 (Ind.1992). The trial court's note, given in open court during a bench conference, did not involve a legal instruction or highlight a factual matter. Considering the nature of the communication and its possible effect, we find that it did not have a prejudicial effect upon the fairness of the defendant's trial.