Opinion ID: 854135
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Failure to Administer the Jury Oath

Text: Sides contends the trial court failed to administer the oath to the jury. He says that his conviction is thus a nullity. We disagree. Sides correctly asserts that the administration of the oath is more than a mere formality. As our Court of Appeals once observed, the oath serves the dual function of impressing upon the jury the solemnness of the trial and ensuring a defendant's right to an impartial jury. Steele v. State, 446 N.E.2d 353, 354 (Ind.Ct.App.1983) (citing People v. Pribble, 72 Mich.App. 219, 249 N.W.2d 363 (1976)). The oath also informs the defendant when jeopardy attaches. Livingston v. State, 544 N.E.2d 1364, 1366-67 (Ind.1989) (citing Maddox v. State, 230 Ind. 92, 102 N.E.2d 225 (1951)). In this case, the record does not clearly indicate whether the trial court administered the oath to the jury. [6] Resolving this question of fact is not crucial, however, because Sides failed to raise his objection during trial. In State v. Dolan, 122 Ind. 141, 23 N.E. 761 (1890), this Court said: [I]t does not appear from facts, as stated in the motion, that any motion or request was made at the trial that the jury be resworn, nor was there any objection made to proceeding with the trial, but without objection the defendant proceeded to trial; and he thereby waived any informality in the manner or time of swearing the jury. 122 Ind. at 144, 23 N.E. at 762 (citations omitted). Further, any objection to the competency of a jury is waived if the defendant fails to avail himself of such objections at the proper time, after they have come to his knowledge. Maddox, 230 Ind. at 99, 102 N.E.2d at 228 (quoting Adams v. State, 99 Ind. 244, 245, (1884) (citations omitted)). Because Sides failed to avail himself of this argument during trial, this issue is waived.