Opinion ID: 2076252
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Procedural Protections

Text: When considering extraordinary security measures, the trial judge should employ procedural protections to minimize the possibility of prejudice to the defendant. Such procedures should include hearing any argument on the issue out of the presence of the jury, affording the defendant an opportunity to rebut, and upon request, issuing cautionary instructions to the jury or polling the jurors to determine if they would be disposed against the defendant because of the security measures. See Bowers, 306 Md. at 129-34, 507 A.2d at 1076-79. The trial judge provided adequate procedural protections. The argument was held outside the jury's presence. Hunt's counsel had the opportunity to argue against the use of physical restraints, and had the opportunity to cross-examine Judge Angeletti. Hunt did not offer any evidence to rebut the reports of prison violations. Hunt did, however, attempt to rebut the escape risk status by arguing that he had been taken to his psychiatrist's office and to court without previous incident. Hunt may have been entitled to, and the trial judge offered to give, cautionary instructions to the jury about the leg irons. The judge also offered to poll the jurors on whether they would be prejudiced by seeing Hunt in leg irons. Hunt's counsel, making a strategic decision, specifically asked that the judge do neither. Having rejected the judge's offer, Hunt cannot now complain about the failure to poll the jury or the failure to give a cautionary instruction.