Opinion ID: 2452189
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Testimony of jurors.

Text: Appellant argues that the trial court improperly allowed her fellow jurors to testify concerning statements she made during jury deliberations, contrary to the United States Supreme Court's holding in Clark v. United States, 289 U.S. 1, 53 S.Ct. 465, 77 L.Ed. 993 (1933), that a prima facie case of juror wrongdoing must first be shown and only then will jury discussions be admissible as corroborative evidence, to supplement and confirm the case that would exist without them. We have recognized that the sanctity of jury deliberations is a fundamental precept of our adversary system. National Bank of Commerce v. HCA Health Ser., 304 Ark. 55, 800 S.W.2d 694 (1990). However, in this instance, the appellant's argument must fail. Although the trial court found that a prima facie case had been made from the evidence extraneous to the jury room deliberations, appellant argues that the only extraneous evidence presented was that Mr. Sallings had previously represented her, and thus the jurors could only have testified to show appellant had knowledge of this prior representation. Appellant overlooks the testimony of Hubert Anderson and the testimony of the jurors concerning appellant's conversations with witnesses and members of the defendant's family outside the jury room. However, more importantly, the appellant in Clark was convicted in federal district court and the rule enunciated by the Supreme Court in 1933 applied to a proceeding in federal court. We have said that the Arkansas Rules of Evidence govern proceedings in the courts of this state. Ark.R.Evid. 101; See Ricarte v. State, 290 Ark. 100, 717 S.W.2d 488 (1986). Appellant also asserts the ruling in Clark is consistent with Fed.Rule Evid. 606(b); however, A.R.E. Rule 606(b) is nearly identical to the federal rule and provides: (b) Inquiry into Validity of Verdict or Indictment. Upon an inquiry into the validity of a verdict or indictment, a juror may not testify as to any matter or statement occurring during the course of the jury's deliberations or to the effect of anything upon his or any other juror's mind or emotions as influencing him to asset [assent] to or dissent from the verdict or indictment or concerning his mental processes in connection therewith, nor may his affidavit or evidence of any statement by him concerning a matter about which he would be precluded from testifying be received, but a juror may testify on the questions whether extraneous prejudicial information was improperly brought to the jury's attention or whether any outside influence was improperly brought to bear upon any juror. (Emphasis added.) This rule provides that jurors may testify in an inquiry into the validity of a verdict. Of course, no verdict was reached in the instant case, but we hold that the rule should apply whether a verdict is reached or a mistrial declared. This rule establishes an extraneous information exception which allows jurors to testify that one or more members of the jury brought to a trial specific personal knowledge about the parties or controversy or acquired such knowledge from sources outside the courtroom during the trial or deliberations. Christopher B. Mueller, 3 Federal Evidence § 249 (2d. ed. 1994); see also Watkins v. Taylor Seed Farms, Inc., 295 Ark. 291, 748 S.W.2d 143 (1988). This is precisely what occurred in the instant case, and the trial court properly allowed jurors to testify about the statements made by appellant during the course of the deliberations. The conviction is affirmed. GLAZE, J., concurs, see Strickland v. State, 322 Ark. 312, 909 S.W.2d 318 (1995) (Dudley, Corbin, and Glaze, JJ., concurring.) CORBIN, J., concurs.