Opinion ID: 2130950
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Was defendant denied due process by release of jurors' identities?

Text: Defendant asserts she was denied the due process right to an impartial jury when the jurors' names were made public during trial, although trial judge had made a pretrial order and a subsequent more limited order forbidding photographs of jurors or disclosure of their names during trial of the case. The circumstances surrounding the unfortunate orders are detailed in our prior decision, Des Moines Register & Tribune v. Osmundson, 248 N.W.2d 493 (Iowa 1976). May 11, 1976, we enjoined trial judge from enforcing his limited order restraining trial publicity. On the same day the jurors' names, addresses and telephone numbers were filed with the Linn County clerk of court as required by law. Id., 248 N.W.2d at 501-502. During trial defendant did not challenge release of jurors' names on due process or impartial jury grounds. Ordinarily matters not raised in trial court, including constitutional questions, may not be asserted effectively for the first time on appeal. State v. Washington, 257 N.W.2d 890, 895 (Iowa 1977); State v. Pardock, 215 N.W.2d 344, 347 (Iowa 1974). There was no trial evidence adduced to show jurors might be exposed to danger during trial. Des Moines Register & Tribune v. Osmundson, supra, 248 N.W.2d at 500. Defendant made no trial or post-trial record showing any alleged prejudicial effect of the release of jurors' names following our above decision. She made no motion for mistrial or new trial. Nothing in the transcript indicates the jury was told before the verdict their names were released. No prejudicial error appears in the record. We find no ground for reversal on this issue.