Opinion ID: 2632351
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: Juror 32 - M. Bryant

Text: The prosecutor asserted that Bryant was struck from the panel because of a recent situation in which her granddaughter's father had been charged or had had certain experiences with drugs. He also contended Bryant was struck because she was retired from the Social Security Administration and because she was doing maintenance work at the Johnson County Juvenile Detention Center. The prosecutor stated that her position at the detention center put her in contact with criminally charged juveniles and made it impossible for the State to determine her position on individuals who might be similarly situated to the young defendant in this case. Bolton was over 18 years of age at the time. Bolton contended the prosecutor had been referring to the situation in which Bryant's granddaughter's father was charged with a drug offense and for which Bryant had had some contact with the father's attorney. Bolton cited to the fact that the husband of Juror 34, P. Reed, had been also been arrested on a drug offense and served time prior to their marriage, but that Reed had not been struck by the State. It must be noted that the record does not indicate Reed's race. The State accurately points out in its brief that seven persons on the jury other than Bryant had either been, or knew someone close to them who had been, charged with a crime. Two of these individuals, in addition to Reed, knew someone who had been charged with a drug-related offense. Of all these individuals, all but Reed and one other, C. Boland, were struck by the State. The defense struck Boland. The State asserts that Reed differs from the others because her husband was charged, convicted, and served time for his offense prior to Reed knowing him. The other jurors were all related or friends at the time the charge was made. Bolton points out in his brief that Bryant was not employed by the Johnson County Juvenile Detention Center, but instead that it was Juror R. Hicks' husband who was so employed. The State concedes this point in its brief, asserting that during voir dire the note was incorrectly made beneath Bryant's name. The State claims Bryant and Hicks were seated next to each other in the courtroom and were listed next to each other on the prosecution's worksheet. The veracity of these statements is unknown, however, as no seating chart or copy of the prosecution's worksheet was included in the record on appeal.