Opinion ID: 1655478
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: whether the trial court erred in failing to swear in the jury properly.

Text: ¶ 22. Jones next contends that the trial court failed to properly swear in the jury members, and therefore, the verdict is null and void. This assignment of error is almost identical to that found in McFarland v. State, 707 So.2d 166 (Miss. 1997). [T]he presumption is that the trial judge properly performed his duties.... Bell v. State, 360 So.2d 1206, 1215 (Miss. 1978). As in McFarland, the verdict and sentencing orders contained language that the jury had been duly sworn and performed their duties accordingly. In his argument, Jones has failed to overcome the presumption of propriety. As such, we find this assignment without merit.