Opinion ID: 1852304
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Removal And Replacement of Juror Number Ten

Text: At the close of all the evidence, after the jury had retired to deliberate and deliberations had proceeded for over four hours, the trial court received a note from the jury. This note read: Juror number ten requests that she be allowed to speak to Judge Shapiro. She feels that she's emotionally unable to make a decision, either way. When the juror explained her note, the following occurred: THE COURT: I don't know what that means. In other words, we have sat here for approximately a month, and both sidesthe State has presented evidence, the defense has cross examined State's witnesses, I have instructed you on the law. Can you apply the law to the evidence and attempt to determine has the State proven the elements, or do you feel you're unable to do that? [JUROR NUMBER TEN]: I can't do that. I can't bring myself to that. THE COURT: Why not? [JUROR NUMBER TEN]: I've been through that before and I couldn't handle it before. THE COURT: What? [JUROR NUMBER TEN]: Before my sonwith my son. I was with it before with my son. THE COURT: How come you didn't tell us about that when we were questioning you? [JUROR NUMBER TEN]: I tell my son, he was actually before three times. . . . . [JUROR NUMBER TEN]: Okay. I've been to court with my son three years ago, I'm saying, now, for a crime he didn't commit. I'm saying now, and I can't, I just can't do it. I can't bring myself to do this. I can't do this. You understand what I'm saying? THE COURT: No, I don't understand a word you're saying. In other words, we went into a great deal of questioning. We spent approximately two weeks questioning jurors and I want to know if you had any feelings or emotions that you didn't bring up? [JUROR NUMBER TEN]: I had, at that time, no, I did not. THE COURT: All right, can you listen to the other jurors discussing their views of the evidence and applying the law to it and would that help you? [JUROR NUMBER TEN]: I cry. I couldn't. We try, but I couldn't go through that. I can't do it. So, I just cannot do it. Thereafter, both parties declined the court's offer to question juror number ten. Williams moved for a mistrial. This motion was denied and, over Williams' objection, the court excused juror number ten and substituted an alternate. Upon the alternate's arrival, the reconstituted jury was instructed, and then deliberated for less than three hours. After deliberating, the jury returned a unanimous verdict of guilty.