Opinion ID: 1820620
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Did the trial court err in overruling the motion for a mistrial based upon the out-of-court excusal of one of the jurors?

Text: On the morning of the last day of trial, Pike County Sheriff Houston Jordan learned that one of the juror's grandmother had died during the night. Sheriff Jordan, who assisted in transporting members of the jury to and from the courthouse, informed the juror of her grandmother's death as the jury was preparing to leave the hotel where they were quartered. The juror called her husband who met her at the restaurant where the jury was having breakfast and took her home. Though the record is unclear, the juror was apparently given permission to leave by one of the bailiffs. When the remaining members of the jury arrived at the courthouse, the trial court was informed of the one juror's absence. The trial court then impaneled an alternate juror without objection by the defense. Appellant raises several questions regarding this unusual occurrence. First, appellant contends that Sheriff Jordan, who testified on behalf of the State in this case, should not have been permitted to serve as a bailiff. This Court has repeatedly stated that a material witness should not serve as the jury bailiff, and if such witness serves as jury bailiff after objection thereto by the defendant, it is reversible error. Pierce v. State, 289 So.2d 901 (Miss. 1974); Dunn v. State, 264 So.2d 823 (Miss. 1972); Smith v. State, 169 So.2d 451 (Miss. 1964); Lee v. State, 226 Miss. 276, 83 So.2d 818 (1955). In Pierce, supra, this Court stated the above rule disapproving the practice of allowing a material state witness to serve as bailiff to the jury, but refused to reverse on the ground that (a) no timely objection was made at trial, and (b) defendant and attorneys did not testify under oath or make affidavit upon motion for new trial that they were ignorant of the fact complained of during the trial. 289 So.2d at 903. In the case sub judice, as in Pierce defense counsel failed to object to Sheriff Jordan's role in transporting the jury to and from the courthouse. Likewise, defense counsel, upon motion for a new trial, did not contend under oath that it was ignorant of Sheriff Jordan's role during the trial. Accordingly, the participation of Sheriff Jordan as bailiff was not reversible error. Secondly, appellant argues that the out-of-court excusal of the juror requires reversal. The record indicates that Sheriff Jordan informed the juror of her grandmother's death and one of the other bailiffs gave the juror permission to go home shortly thereafter. At the outset, it should be noted that this Court strongly disapproves of this highly irregular procedure. Miss. Code Ann. § 13-5-67 (1972), which governs impaneling of alternate jurors, does not contemplate excusal of a juror by one other than the trial judge. The proper procedure in this case would have been for the bailiff to escort the juror back to court and inform the trial judge of the situation. The trial judge could then have determined if, under the circumstances, the juror was unable to perform her duty and, if warranted, ordered excusal. However, in this case, we decline to reverse on this ground for two reasons. First, appellant raised no objection when the trial court announced the impaneling of the alternate juror. Secondly, appellant has failed to show any prejudice as a result of the impaneling of the alternate. Russell v. State, 220 So.2d 334 (Miss. 1969). Finally, we observe that the alternate in this case was subjected to the same examination as the original juror and accepted by both sides. This Court concludes that, under the circumstances of this case, this assignment of error is without merit.