Opinion ID: 2543365
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Juror Misconduct in 1992 Penalty Hearing

Text: ¶ 18 We review this allegation on the merits to ensure that substantial justice is done. See, e.g., Codianna, 660 P.2d at 1114-16 (Stewart, J., concurring in result). Carter argues that he was denied the right to a fair trial and an impartial jury during the second penalty hearing because after Carter's psychiatric expert testified, the jury consulted a dictionary that one of the jurors had with him to define a term used by the expert. As support for this claim, Carter submitted an affidavit signed by a member of the jury. The affidavit states that the court bailiff observed the jury consulting the dictionary, reported the incident to the trial judge, and informed the jury that he had spoken to the judge about the incident. The trial judge instructed the jury that consultation of external material was inappropriate. Counsel was not notified, nor was any further action taken by the judge. ¶ 19 Taking the allegations in the petition as true, the district court determined that, at most, the misconduct by the jury was harmless. The district court acknowledged that consulting a dictionary is an inappropriate reference to extra-judicial sources, yet the court also found that there was no evidence that the consultation caused any juror to so focus his/her views as to constitute a prejudice. ¶ 20 We agree with the district court's findings. Carter was constitutionally entitled to a jury uninfluenced by external sources. However, in order for Carter to show that his constitutional rights were violated, he must show that he was prejudiced by the incident. See, e.g., State v. Donald, 90 Utah 533, 537-38, 63 P.2d 246, 248 (Utah 1936). Carter has failed to do so. He has presented no evidence regarding what word was looked up in the dictionary or how the incident impacted the jury's deliberations, let alone any evidence as to how the incident created a jury that was not impartial. Therefore, we affirm the district court's dismissal of this claim.