Opinion ID: 431092
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Failure to Discharge Alternate Jurors

Text: 53 Smith's final contention is that the district court erred in deciding to retain the alternate jurors after the jury retired to consider its verdict. See Fed.R.Crim.P. 24(c). Because Smith failed to preserve this issue through a timely objection below, we may review it only if it constitutes plain error. United States v. Perez, 491 F.2d 167, 173 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 419 U.S. 858, 95 S.Ct. 106, 42 L.Ed.2d 92 (1974). We conclude that Smith has failed to establish the kind of highly prejudicial error affecting substantial rights required for plain error review. United States v. Giese, 597 F.2d 1170, 1199 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 444 U.S. 979, 100 S.Ct. 480, 62 L.Ed.2d 405 (1979). The alternate jurors were properly sequestered in a separate hotel from the regular jurors, separate marshals were sworn and assigned to the regular and alternate jurors, and there was no contact whatever between the regular jurors and the alternates. On these facts, the trial judge's failure to discharge the alternates under Rule 24(c), if prejudicial at all, 7 was certainly not plain error. 54 Having concluded that none of Smith's claims are meritorious, we AFFIRM his conviction. No. 80-1586. 55 We REVERSE the convictions of Rubio, Elledge, Palomar, Passaro, and Stefanson. Nos. 80-1577, 80-1584, 80-1587, 80-1592, and 80-1631. The government will file notice with the district court within 30 days if it intends to reprosecute. 56 The motion of the appellee, United States of America, to stay issuance of the mandate pursuant to Rule 41(b) for a period of 30 days pending application for a writ of certiorari is GRANTED. 57