Opinion ID: 2391925
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Forelady's Mental Health History

Text: Banther filed an amended motion for a new trial challenging the mental competence of the foreperson to serve as a juror. The motion alleged that the foreperson had been hospitalized for multiple personality disorders at an unspecified time prior to trial and had been subjected to an involuntary commitment for her own safety nine months after Banther's trial. The Superior Court denied Banther's motion for a new trial. Title 10, section 4509(a) of the Delaware Code requires the trial court to determine on the basis of information provided on the juror qualification form or interview with the prospective juror or other competent evidence whether the prospective juror is disqualified for jury service. Section 4509(b)(5) states that jurors who are [I]ncapable, by reason of physical or mental disability, of rendering satisfactory jury service are not qualified to serve. Despite the statutory directive to determine each prospective juror's mental competence, the venire called for Banther's trial was not asked any questions about their mental health on either the standard juror qualification form or during the general and individual voir dire in this case. [7] This matter was remanded originally to ascertain whether the forelady had a mental disability during Banther's trial. The expanded record upon remand reflects that the forelady received extensive treatment by mental health care professionals prior to her service as a juror:  Smith underwent psychiatric treatment at St. John's Episcopal Hospital in Smithtown, New York, from May 23, 1987 through June 18, 1987. She was 15 years old. Smith was admitted after two suicide attempts. The records disclose that these suicide attempts and her open discussions of suicide were perpetuated by a history of molestation at the hands of her grandfather for 10 to 12 years. Her prognosis upon release was fair.  Smith was again hospitalized in the same facility from December 18, 1987 through January 15, 1988 and had an intervening hospitalization at Hunnington Hospital in New York. Both hospitalizations arose out of an attempted suicide. The underlying cause of these attempted suicides was the 10 to 12 year history of molestation at the hands of her grandfather. Smith also reported being raped at knife point at the age of 12.  Smith was again hospitalized at the same facility from April 21, 1988 through May 23, 1988. The discharge summary provides that Smith was admitted after becoming hysterical two days earlier in a health class when a film on sexual abuse was shown. Those records reiterate the history of sexual abuse suffered by Smith at the hands of her grandfather. Smith reported nightmares and dreams about her sexual liaisons with her grandfather. The prognosis upon discharge was fair. The expanded record upon remand reflects that the forelady also received significant treatment by mental health care professionals subsequent to her service on the Banther jury. On August 27, 1999, less than nine months after Banther's trial, the forelady was the subject of an involuntary commitment proceeding. The Delaware Psychiatric Center records reflect that on August 24, 1999, she was incoherent, disruptive and out of control. The September 3, 1999 records state that she has been diagnosed with factitious disorder and other personality disorders. The medical records reflect her release from hospital care on January 4, 2000. During the last remand, Banther's attorneys had the forelady's mental health records reviewed and evaluated by Dr. Rodgers Wilson, a Board Certified psychiatrist. Dr. Wilson summarized the forelady's psychiatric history, based on his examination of her medical mental health records, as follows: Past psychiatric history is remarkable for previous suicide attempts and a history of alcohol and cannabis abuse which has been documented in the medical records. Diagnostically, she has carried the diagnoses of Adjustment Disorder with Depressive Mood Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, NOS, Depressive Disorder NOS, Alcohol Abuse and Cocaine Abuse. The Juror has a history of childhood sexual abuse and a history of adult rape. She has had prior psychiatric hospitalizations at St. Johns Episcopal Hospital in Smithtown and St. Francis Hospital. There had been an adjudication proceeding started by the State of Delaware alleging that the Juror was mentally ill and dangerous. (The commitment was never fully adjudicated). Adolescent psychological testing has suggested average intelligence with a suggestion of a learning disorder indicated on psychological testing. Dr. Wilson determined that significant issues are raised as to whether the Juror had capacity at the time she rendered jury service. Dr. Wilson concluded, however, that without a clinical interview of the Juror, relevant information cannot be attained to establish retrospective incapacity or capacity. Nevertheless, the trial judge's report to this Court states that he was satisfied from the evidence presented and my own observations of the juror at the time of trial that she was fully capable of rendering satisfactory jury service.