Opinion ID: 1685116
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 11

Heading: Instructing Jury Outside Counsel and Parties' Presence

Text: Jackson assigns that the district court erred in refusing to grant him a new trial because the court instructed the jury outside the presence of the parties and counsel when the jury, after retiring, submitted three requests for clarification or additional instructions to the court. The State argues that the record does not establish that the court failed to notify the parties and their counsel and that even if the allegation is supported by the record, the communications did not result in prejudice to Jackson. The first communication stated: After debilerating (sic) Monday, juror went home and put on paper her points she would like to make during deliberations on Tuesday. Can a juror refer to her notes that were made at home? The court responded, As long as the notes are based upon the evidence that was adduced at trial, those notes can be used by a juror. In the same communication, the jury asked, Is reasonable doubt 70% 30%? The court responded, I am not permitted to expand upon the instructions that you have already been given. Please refer to your instructions, including the definition of `reasonable doubt' which appears at Instruction No. 9. The second communication stated: Juror instruction sheet states use of a firearm to commit a felony. The verdict sheet states use of a weapon ... which are we to use in our decisionweapon or firearm? The court responded, The terms are interchangeable. The third communication read: May the jury replace its foreperson? to which the court responded, Yes. Jackson claims that the court should not have addressed the jury outside the presence of the parties, pursuant to Neb.Rev. Stat. § 25-1116 (Reissue 1995). Section 25-1116 states: After the jury have retired for deliberation, if there be a disagreement between them as to any part of the testimony, or if they desire to be informed as to any part of the law arising in the case, they may request the officer to conduct them to the court where the information upon the point of law shall be given, and the court may give its recollection as to the testimony on the point in dispute in the presence of or after notice to the parties or their counsel. If it becomes necessary to give further instructions to the jury during deliberation, the proper practice is to call the jury into open court and to give any additional instructions in writing in the presence of the parties or their counsel. See State v. Owen, 1 Neb.App. 1060, 510 N.W.2d 503 (1993), citing Nebraska Depository Inst. Guar. Corp. v. Stastny, 243 Neb. 36, 497 N.W.2d 657 (1993). The State has the burden to prove that a defendant was not prejudiced by any improper communication between the judge and the jury. State v. Thomas, 262 Neb. 985, 637 N.W.2d 632 (2002). If the record affirmatively shows that the defendant has been prejudiced by private communication between the trial court and jurors, it is reversible error, and a new trial should be granted. Reversal is not required if the record affirmatively shows that the communication had no tendency to influence the verdict. See id. Although communication between the trial judge and jurors should always take place with the parties and their counsel present (unless waived), the record before us does not affirmatively show that the communications in this case resulted in prejudice. The communication regarding the jury foreperson did not relate to the evidence or the law and, thus, does not implicate § 25-1116. The court should have dealt with the other three questions after notice to the parties. The court's responses, however, were legally correct answers to which Jackson, if present, could have raised no valid complaint. Any issue of juror misconduct implied by the jury's questions was waived by Jackson's failure to object on that basis or specifically raise the issue at the hearing on his motion for new trial. The district court did not abuse its discretion in refusing to grant a new trial on the basis of the communications between the jury and the judge.