Opinion ID: 2649691
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Giffords Shootings

Text: ¶23 Two days after the Giffords shootings, Forde moved to continue her trial, which had been scheduled to start the next day, arguing that trying the case in the immediate aftermath of the Giffords shootings would be unfair because jurors might transfer their emotional distress to Forde in light of similarities between the crimes. Although the court 7 STATE V. FORDE Opinion of the Court denied the motion, it nonetheless continued the trial for eight days, in part because “the events of the past several days along with continuing developments within the community have created an atmosphere that’s not conducive to going forward with the trial today.” On the new trial date, Forde renewed her motion, contending that the publicity and emotions stemming from the Giffords shootings had not subsided. The trial court denied the motion. ¶24 Forde argues that the shock and grief experienced by Tucson residents after the Giffords shootings presented the type of “extraordinary circumstances” that warranted a trial continuance. She points out that her lead attorney, Eric Larsen, initially argued he was emotionally incapable of providing Forde with an adequate defense, which was later evidenced by inadequate voir dire. But Larsen later told the court that the eight-day trial continuance alleviated his personal issues. And any inadequacy in the voir dire should be considered in the context of an ineffectiveassistance-of-counsel claim, which is not before us. See State v. Spreitz, 202 Ariz. 1, 3 ¶ 9, 39 P.3d 525, 527 (2002) (requiring “ineffective assistance of counsel claims . . . to be brought in Rule 32 proceedings”). ¶25 Forde additionally contends that “extraordinary circumstances” existed because it was impossible to seat a jury not deeply affected by the Giffords shootings. As previously explained, however, Forde fails to demonstrate that the emotional distress caused by the Giffords shootings affected the jurors’ ability to fairly reach a verdict. ¶26 The appropriate way to determine the impact of a significant unrelated event in the community is to question potential jurors during the voir dire process. Forde’s attorney took that opportunity and questioned potential jurors about the impact of the Giffords shootings. Only one person indicated he might not be able to be fair, and the court excused him. ¶27 Accordingly, the trial court did not err by denying Forde’s motions to continue. 8 STATE V. FORDE Opinion of the Court