Opinion ID: 2570511
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 10

Heading: Speedy Trial & Mistrial

Text: Finally, White argues his right to speedy trial was violated when a mistrial was declared after the State would not agree to proceed to trial with less than 12 jurors. This argument is without merit. A mistrial was declared on October 6, 2000, because of the unavailability of jurors. After 12 jurors were impaneled and 2 alternate jurors were selected, but before evidence was presented, 4 of the 14 jurors were dismissed from service when the jurors came forward indicating they could not be impartial. The defendants agreed to proceed with less than 12 jurors. However, the State did not consent. Because this happened midday on a Friday, the district court felt additional jurors were unavailable. The court declared a mistrial. K.S.A. 22-3423(1)(a) permits a trial court to terminate the trial and order a mistrial at any time termination is necessary because it is physically impossible to proceed with the trial in conformity with law. Terminating a trial and declaring a mistrial are largely within the discretion of the district court. A clear showing of abuse of discretion must be made before the mistrial decision will be set aside on appeal. State v. Williams, 268 Kan. 1, 8, 988 P.2d 722 (1999). In this case, once the 4 jurors were dismissed, only 10 jurors remained. There was no written agreement by the parties to continue the trial with 10 jurors. See K.S.A. 22-3403. Absent a written agreement, the trial court was left with declaring a mistrial, and did not abuse its discretion in doing so. The speedy trial statute, K.S.A. 22-3402(4), dictates how time is to be computed when the trial court grants a mistrial: (4) In the event a mistrial is declared or a conviction is reversed on appeal to the supreme court or court of appeals, the time limitations provided for herein shall commence to run from the date the mistrial is declared or the date the mandate of the supreme court or court of appeals is filed in the district court. Nothing in the statute makes the time limitation dependent upon what caused the mistrial or which party caused the mistrial. In this case, since White was held in jail solely because of the charged crimes, the State had another 90 days to bring the defendant to trial from the date the mistrial was declared. The mistrial was granted on October 6, 2000, and the trial began on January 3, 2001, less than 90 days later. White's statutory right to a speedy trial was not violated. Affirmed. ABBOTT, J., not participating. DAVID S. KNUDSON, J., assigned.