Opinion ID: 1057580
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Juror with Newspaper

Text: Next, we consider Mr. Henretta's argument that the trial court failed to accord him the full measure of the heightened standard of due process to which a capital defendant is entitled by denying his motion for mistrial upon allegation that a juror was witnessed reading a newspaper. With regard to this issue, Mr. Henretta merely states that Juror Edred Dayle Durham was seen with a newspaper and the Defense raised the issue of whether as he saw [sic] that the objection to his having a copy of a newspaper (probably USA Today) came from the Defense team. The motion for mistrial was not granted. Mr. Henretta presents no authority or argument as to why the trial court's failure to grant his motion was erroneous and constituted a denial of due process. Accordingly, to the extent that he has even articulated an issue, that issue is waived. See Hawkins v. Hart, 86 S.W.3d 522, 531 (Tenn.Ct.App.2001). Whether to grant a motion for mistrial is a matter within the trial court's discretion. State v. Nash, 294 S.W.3d 541, 546 (Tenn.2009); State v. Saylor, 117 S.W.3d 239, 250 (Tenn.2003). Notwithstanding Mr. Henretta's waiver of this issue, we have examined the record in this case and find no evidence that the trial court abused its discretion in denying Mr. Henretta's motion for mistrial.