Opinion ID: 2632351
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Juror 15 - M. Smith

Text: The prosecutor asserted that Smith was removed because he had indicated he had a back problem. The trial was scheduled to last 5 days. The prosecutor claimed he thought it would be better to have people who were comfortable throughout the trial rather than take the chance of the need for additional recesses or a possible mistrial because of the back problems of this particular juror. Bolton's counsel admitted that he did not have an independent recollection of whether the State or the trial court had sufficiently questioned Smith about how burdensome it would be for him to serve as a juror or whether the court had offered any alternative arrangements. Bolton contended, however, that the issue was not sufficiently explored to justify the State's using Smith's back problem as the reason for striking him. During voir dire, Smith indicated he had back surgery about a year ago, was on social security disability as a result of his back injury, and that the bench on which he was sitting was hurting his back. Upon moving to the padded chairs he would be seated in if a member of the jury, Smith indicated that he would not have a problem sitting during the trial. The State asserts that attention and patience are important aspects for a juror and that the State should not be required to learn in the middle of trial that a juror is having back problems and may or may not have heard all the evidence.