Opinion ID: 2063638
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Juror Refusal

Text: During jury deliberations on the habitual offender question, one juror refused to find for or against Dixon. Upon questioning by the trial judge, the juror stated, It's not something I want on my head. The record reveals that the juror was refusing to participate in the deliberations, as distinct from voting for acquittal. Over Dixon's objection, the juror was excused and replaced by an alternate. The trial court has discretion to remove a juror who become[s] or [is] found to be unable or disqualified to perform [her] duties under Trial Rule 47(B), Ind. Rules of Procedure. Ferry v. State (1983), Ind. 453 N.E.2d 207. The trial court correctly found that the juror became unable to perform her duties during the habitual offender deliberations and properly replaced her with an alternate.