Opinion ID: 2082795
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Irreparable Jury Prejudice

Text: On the Monday following the Saturday verdict, while the proceedings were in recess, juror Number Twelve, came to the courthouse. The juror wanted to report her concerns about extraneous information that the jury had received. Outside of the presence of other jurors, the trial judge convened the attorneys and conducted an interview with juror Number Twelve under oath. Juror Number Twelve confirmed juror Number Four's earlier report that juror Number Six had actually told all of the other jurors about the substance of what the unknown woman had said to her before juror Number Six was interviewed by the trial judge. Juror Number Twelve testified that, according to juror Number Six, the unknown woman had asked juror Number Six if she was serving on the Freddy Flonnory case, and then went on to tell her ... you know he's been accused of murdering someone else before. Juror Number Twelve testified that Juror Number Six said this to each and every one of us while we were sitting there. According to Juror Number Twelve, Juror Number Six only reported her contact with the unidentified woman to the bailiff upon the urging of other jurors, but it was too late then. She had already told us everything. When questioned by the trial judge as to what other outside information was known to the jury, Juror Number Twelve also reported that: Okay. Well, there's  It was more than one person. It was just one of the jurors, while we were deliberating, had said that the defendant had been in possession of a gun at nine years old. And I said how do you know that? You're not supposed to know these things. Juror Number Twelve identified juror Number Five as the juror who informed jurors of Flonnory's alleged possession of a gun at the age of nine. Juror Number Twelve also reported that juror Number Nine had maintained his own personal notebook, which he took home every night, contrary to the directions of the trial judge and said that what others did not know did no harm, Juror Number Twelve also said several jurors knew more than they were told during trial, indicating that they knew he had previously shot somebody. Juror Number Twelve testified that her improper knowledge of Flonnory's alleged involvement in a prior murder affected her vote to find Flonnory guilty of Murder in the First Degree rather than Murder in the Second Degree. Juror Number Twelve was excused briefly after this initial interview. The trial judge stated: I do find her to be credible. I have no reason to believe she is not credible. The trial judge also stated: I mean she said what she said. I believe that she considered it i.e., the statement from juror Number Six that Flonnory had been accused of murdering someone before.