Opinion ID: 2605164
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Trial Court's Refusal to Excuse for Cause Two Accepted Jurors.

Text: Defendant asserts that the trial court erred in failing to dismiss two jurors for cause because of the possibility that those two jurors had overheard a conversation between two veniremen in which at least one or both of the two veniremen indicated a belief that Gilbert was guilty. It is uncontested that the trial court questioned the two jurors and that both denied hearing any such conversation. Defendant presented no evidence to indicate that the jurors heard such a conversation. The trial court did not abuse its discretion. See State v. Martinez, 95 N.M. 445, 623 P.2d 565 (1981); State v. Padilla, 91 N.M. 451, 575 P.2d 960 (Ct.App. 1978). Trial Court's Excusal and Subsequent Reseating of a Potential Juror. Defendant argues that the trial court erred in excusing and subsequently reseating a prospective juror on the final jury selection list. During voir dire, a prospective juror expressed reservations about the death penalty and was then excused for cause. Defendant objected under the Witherspoon doctrine. See Witherspoon v. Illinois, 391 U.S. 510, 88 S.Ct. 1770, 20 L.Ed.2d 776 (1968). Later, the same prospective juror was summoned by the trial court, questioned further and reseated on the final prospective juror list. Defendant objected and now claims that such a procedure could engender confusion in the prospective juror's mind and thereby deny Defendant a fair trial. In final jury selection, regular and alternate jurors were selected before the prospective juror's number was reached. The trial court explained to the prospective juror why she had been recalled. The juror received the explanations and admonitions given to all the other prospective jurors. We do not find that the trial court abused its discretion. See State v. Martinez, 95 N.M. 445, 623 P.2d 565 (1981); State v. Padilla . Trial Court's Dismissal of a Seated Juror. During the course of the trial the court received information that one of the seated jurors was schizophrenic, suffered from seizures and was under a doctor's care. The trial court informed counsel for both sides, and proceeded to investigate the matter by consultation with the juror's attending physician. The doctor considered the juror to be flaky and strongly recommended the juror's recusal as being in the best interest of the juror. The trial court excused the juror and Defendant objected without stating any reasons. We find neither prejudice to the defendant, nor an abuse of discretion on the part of the trial court. See State v. Padilla ; cf. State v. Gallegos, 88 N.M. 487, 542 P.2d 832 (Ct.App.), cert. denied, 89 N.M. 6, 546 P.2d 71 (1975) (trial court's duty to see that an accused is tried by a properly qualified jury). The trial court did not err in dismissing this juror.