Opinion ID: 2518342
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Remark by Spectator

Text: Overton argues that the jury verdict is tainted by a spectator's prejudicial comment overheard by the jurors. The trial judge heard a spectator in the hallway state: He'll get his judgment when the day comes, or something to that effect, while some jurors were present. Overton requested an opportunity to question the jurors regarding the impact of the statement. The trial court denied Overton's request. Communication between jurors and third parties is broadly termed juror misconduct. Juror misconduct is not the basis for reversal, new trial, or mistrial unless it substantially prejudices a defendant's rights. State v. Macomber, 244 Kan. 396, 407, 769 P.2d 621, cert. denied 493 U.S. 842 (1989), rev'd on other grounds 260 Kan. 634, 923 P.2d 67 (1996); State v. Fenton, 228 Kan. 658, 664, 620 P.2d 813 (1980). A trial court has discretion for determining whether to question jurors regarding such unauthorized comments. The party asserting prejudicial error bears the burden of establishing such error. Macomber, 244 Kan. at 407. Overton claims that he could not meet his burden of establishing jury prejudice because the trial court denied him the opportunity to question the jurors. This argument is similar to the Macomber court's assessment of a similar claim. In Macomber, the defendant was not allowed to question a juror who allegedly had a conversation with a witness. The Macomber court's decision to affirm the trial court relied on the trial judge's experience in observing the circumstances of the case and Macomber's failure to take advantage of the opportunity to obtain jurors' statements subsequent to his conviction to support his motion for a new trial. 244 Kan. at 408. The same factors apply in this case. The trial judge personally heard the spectator's remark and, as an experienced observer of the circumstances, was qualified to determine whether the remark would have prejudiced the jury. In addition, Overton should have included affidavits of jurors who overheard the spectator's comment in his motion for a new trial and failed to do so. Moreover, Overton fails to establish that any prejudice stemmed from the spectator's comment. Overton was charged with rape and indecent liberties with both G.B. and T.R. The jury acquitted Overton of the charges related to T.R. This indicates that the jury's verdict was based on the evidence rather than prejudice. Overton has failed to establish that his substantial rights have been prejudiced. Under the facts of this case, the trial court did not err in denying Overton's request to question jurors about the spectator's comment.