Opinion ID: 2433485
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Juror Wozniak

Text: Ms. Wozniak was originally selected as an alternate juror. She took Ms. Fleece's place after Ms. Fleece's excusal. The trial court received a note from Ms. Wozniak's doctor, Dr. Craig Boyd, indicating that Ms. Wozniak, who was pregnant, was subject to pre-term labor and that her doctor believed health considerations counseled against jury service. The trial court later received a call from Wozniak's husbandalso a doctorrestating what Dr. Boyd had written. The trial court asked Ms. Wozniak whether she could sit on the jury. She replied: I honestly don't think that I can sit here for the next 14 days. It's uncomfortable to sit here hour after hour. I have very bad veins. And I didn't mention this in my questionnaire. I really didn't think it pertinent at the time when you're called for jury duty. And it's just 99 percent of the population who gets called for jury duty and doesn't probably get called for this kind of duty. And that's probably why I didn't bring that up before. But do I think I can sit here for 14 days comfortably and be able to concentrate? I doubt it. Given the pre-term labor susceptibility, vein problems, and inability to concentrate reported by Ms. Wozniak and her doctor, we find no abuse of discretion in the trial court's decision to excuse her. SECTION 494.485, RSMO 1994. The points are denied.