Opinion ID: 1328530
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Solicitor's Comments to Media

Text: Appellant argues the trial judge erred in refusing to grant a change of venue or mistrial because of two comments the solicitor made to the media during the trial. First, the solicitor stated in a newspaper article (published December 6, 1994) he was shocked by the judge's decision to keep Victim's husband from viewing jury selection. The judge properly denied Appellant's motion for the reasons discussed in Issue III above. Second, on December 7, 1994 the trial judge issued a gag order prohibiting the attorneys from discussing the case with the media. However, after the jury returned the guilty verdict, the solicitor received permission from the judge to comment to the media. The solicitor told the media Appellant strongly deserved the death penalty. Appellant argues this comment was prejudicial and deprived him of a fair trial. The decision of whether or not to grant a mistrial is discretionary with the judge and should not be disturbed absent an abuse of that discretion. State v. Wasson, 299 S.C. 508, 386 S.E.2d 255 (1989). Here, the jury was sequestered when this article was published. Appellant conceded the jurors could not have read the article. Furthermore, the trial judge stated he would find out if there had been any violations of the sequestration. Therefore, no prejudice could have occurred. The cases cited by Appellant are distinguishable. See, e.g., State v. Salters, 273 S.C. 501, 257 S.E.2d 502 (1979) (error in refusing to poll unsequestered jury after a prejudicial news article was published during the trial).