Opinion ID: 1351466
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Failure to Properly Instruct Alternate Juror

Text: During the penalty phase deliberations a juror was hospitalized and was replaced by an alternate. The jury was instructed to disregard earlier deliberations and begin deliberating anew. (48) Defendant contends, however, that the court erred in failing to instruct the replacement juror that the instruction to begin anew meant she was not bound by the other jurors' earlier determination of guilt, but could vote against the death penalty if she doubted defendant's guilt. The alternate juror was instructed, however, together with the other jurors, on the appropriateness of considering lingering doubt as a mitigating factor. Such an instruction made it clear that she could vote against the death penalty if she disagreed with the guilt phase verdict, and no further instruction was necessary.