Opinion ID: 1103979
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Trial Judge Should Have Su Sponde [Sic] Dismissed Mrs. Parker.

Text: ¶ 16. Puckett's contends that the trial court judge should have dismissed Ms. Parker, sua sponte, upon learning that she did not complete the jury information questionnaire on her own. As the record indicates, Ms. Parker told the trial court that her daughter filled out the questionnaire. ¶ 17. This issue is without merit. Puckett is taking issue with the portion of Miss.Code Ann. § 13-5-1, which reads: The judge shall personally examine the answers of each juror prior to empaneling the jury and each juror who cannot complete the above form shall be disqualified as a juror and discharged. The purpose of the form is to aid the trial court in determining who can and cannot read and write. The record reflects extensive voir dire by the trial court regarding Ms. Parker's ability to read and write. Puckett's counsel asked Ms. Parker if she filled out the questionnaire. MR. ADELMAN [Defense counsel]: Were you able to fill out the questionnaire? JUROR TOMOE PARKER: No, I didn't; my daughter filled it out for me. THE COURT: You understood the questions? JUROR TOMOE PARKER: Yes. Writing and reading I have no problem. Ms. Parker clearly indicated that she could read and write. ¶ 18. In Herring v. State, 374 So.2d 784 (Miss.1979), this Court held that a person who meets the other qualifications and can read and write only a few words is qualified as a juror. Further, in Johnson v. State, 416 So.2d 383 (Miss.1982), the Defendant asserted that juror Leflore could not read or write and moved for a mistrial. A hearing was conducted at which juror Leflore testified that she could read and write, that she read the jury instructions, and that it was only after the jury dispersed that she became ill and unable to read. The Defendant offered juror Leflore's step-daughter, Mrs. Griffin, as a witness, who testified that juror Leflore could not read. The trial judge overruled the motion for a mistrial. This Court held that [i]n view of the fact that the evidence was conflicting, a factual dispute evolved for resolution by the trial judge and held the issue to be without merit. Id. at 390. ¶ 19. In this case, there was not even a dispute as to whether Ms. Parker could read and write. Despite the fact that Ms. Parker stated her daughter filled out the Jury Information Questionnaire, the trial judge and Puckett's counsel questioned her about her ability to understand the questions asked on the questionnaire and her ability to read and write. The record supports the trial judge's finding that Ms. Parker was a qualified juror. This issue is without merit.