Opinion ID: 2354297
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Extra-judicial communication with juror.

Text: The jury was finally seated and sworn on Wednesday, June 28, 2000. The trial judge admonished the jurors in accordance with RCr 9.70 not to permit anyone to speak to, or communicate with [you] on any subject connected with the trial, and that all attempts to do so should be immediately reported by [you] to the court.  (Emphasis added.) Court was then adjourned until Wednesday, July 5, 2000. On the morning of July 5, 2000, Juror 182 reported to the trial judge that his brother-in-law had, over his protestations, discussed the case with him during a Fourth of July family gathering the previous day. The judge held an in-chambers hearing on this issue with the juror, the prosecutor, and defense counsel while Appellant remained in the courtroom. During the hearing, Juror 182 revealed that his brother-in-law owned a service station and mini-market in Louisville and that Appellant was employed there when the killings occurred (a fact previously unknown to Juror 182). Juror 182's brother-in-law had also remarked that Appellant had killed his in-laws and may have been under the influence of cocaine or something. Juror 182 stated that this information would not affect his impartiality because, except for the employment situation, his brother-in-law did not tell him anything that he had not already read in the newspapers. After questioning Juror 182 and eliciting no additional information, defense counsel moved that he be excused as the alternate juror. The motion was denied. Appellant does not assert that it was error to overrule the motion to excuse Juror 182 but only that he was entitled to be present at the hearing on the motion. However, Appellant did not object to his exclusion, Watkins, supra, at 453; Byrd, supra, at 274, and does not suggest how a fair and just hearing on this issue was thwarted by his absence. Snyder, supra, at 107-08, 54 S.Ct. at 333. There was substantial evidence at trial that Appellant had killed his in-laws and no evidence to the contrary. The evidence was also uncontradicted that Appellant's urine tested positive for cocaine. Juror 182's brother-in-law was not a trial witness and Appellant does not suggest what other information his former employer might have possessed and imparted to Juror 182 that would have prejudiced the juror against him. Defense counsel unsuccessfully attempted to have Juror 182 excused from the jury and Appellant does not suggest how his presence would have changed that outcome. Sanders, 89 S.W.3d at 388-89 (defendant's right to due process not violated by exclusion from hearing regarding juror's acquaintance with victim's father because there was nothing that [the defendant] could have done by being present).