Opinion ID: 1057594
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 28

Heading: Prospective Juror Manual Oskian

Text: The Defendant argues that the trial court erred when it removed Prospective Juror Manual Oskian because Oskian never said he would be biased. The State argues that the trial court properly dismissed Oskian based upon Oskian's responses that his judgment might be impaired because his co-worker's son was also on trial for murder and that he would be uncomfortable at work if he was empanelled on the jury. During the questioning of Oskian, the following transpired: The Court: And you had indicated that you worked with a person [at Saturn], whose son ... is charged with murder; is that correct? A [Oskian]: He's in trial. Uh-huh (affirmative). . . . . A: In Marshall County. . . . . A: [F]or me to be working with him, his son being tried and me being here, it's kind of like trying to put me in the spot. The Court: So you think it might put you in a bad situation, because  A: Yes. Yes. Q:  his son was at trial as we speak? A: Yes, sir. Q: And if you were on this jury, that might cause you some conflict with this gentleman, this person? A: Yes, sir. Q: Why would that be? A: When you work with somebody  I don't know how to phrase it  but on an assembly line, and you work with somebody, you always communicate. Q: Would it make you uncomfortable then, to sit on this jury, because of that? A: I think so. I think so. Q: You think it might, in some manner, affect your judgment? A: It might. It might. Later, when being asked questions by defense counsel, Oskian elaborated, saying, [I]t would ... affect[] me when I[was]... working. I have known [my coworker] for 12 years. I've worked next to him for 12 years. What's going to happen to me the next 12 years, when his trial comes up? He then said, Just being in this trial would make [him] feel uncomfortable either way the verdict went. The trial court then excused Oskian from the jury venire. As previously stated, a trial court may discharge from service any juror for any reasonable or proper cause, to be judged by the court. T.C.A. § 22-1-105 (Supp. 2008). Whether to excuse a juror from the venire is a matter left within the sound discretion of the trial court. See Raspberry, 875 S.W.2d at 681. To be entitled to relief, the Defendant would have to show that, because Oskian was excused, he was left with a jury what was not fair and impartial. See generally, Howell, 868 S.W.2d at 248; Thompson, 768 S.W.2d at 246. Our review of the record reveals that the trial court did not abuse its discretion when it removed Prospective Juror Oskian. Oskian expressed his concern that his close relationship with his co-worker, whose son was on trial for murder, might affect his judgment in this case. Further, he said that serving as a juror would make him uncomfortable at his place of employment. The Defendant has not shown that the trial court erred by excusing Juror Oskian, and he has not shown that the jury that was empanelled was not fair and impartial. As such, he is not entitled to relief on this issue.