Opinion ID: 2344127
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: The Defendant Quinlan Mistrial Based on Juror Misconduct

Text: The defendant Quinlan asserts that the trial justice's refusal to grant a mistrial and failure to admonish the jury based on juror misconduct was reversible error. We disagree. During the trial, it was disclosed that one of the jurors spoke about the case, visited the crime scene, and possibly read a news report about the murders. Based on this disclosure, Quinlan alleged that the jury was tainted to such a degree that a mistrial should have been granted. Upon questioning by the trial justice, it was discovered that one of the jurors had in fact spoken about the case in general terms; however, the record discloses that the other jurors ignored him. It also was alleged that the juror referred to the area around 57 Academy Avenue as a working-class or low-class neighborhood. It is well settled that a decision to pass a case and declare a mistrial are matters left to the sound discretion of the trial justice. State v. Suero, 721 A.2d 426, 429 (R.I.1998); State v. Figueroa, 673 A.2d 1084, 1091 (R.I.1996). The trial justice possesses a `front-row seat' at the trial and can best determine the effect of [any potential prejudice] upon the jury. Figueroa, 673 A.2d at 1091 (quoting State v. Tempest, 651 A.2d 1198, 1207 (R.I. 1995)). The refusal of the trial justice to pass a case is accorded great deference and will not be disturbed on appeal unless it is shown to be clearly wrong. Figueroa, 673 A.2d at 1091; Tempest, 651 A.2d at 1207. We reiterate that a rebuttable presumption of prejudice does not arise merely because extraneous information is placed before the jury. State v. Hartley, 656 A.2d 954, 961-62 (R.I.1995). In Hartley we declared that the proper method of determining the prejudicial effect of extraneous information is to consider the probable effect that such information would have on an average reasonable juror. Id. at 962. Only when the trial justice finds that the incident would probably influence the decision of an average reasonable juror, is the information prejudicial such that a mistrial should be granted. Id. After questioning the jurors, the trial justice found no evidence that the remarks made by the juror reflected guilt or innocence. Rather, the juror was characterized as a nuisance. Based on the record before us, we are satisfied that the behavior of a single juror who was dismissed from the panel could not have influenced the jury nor did it warrant a mistrial. Quinlan relies on State v. Carmody, 471 A.2d 1363, 1366-67 (R.I.1984), in which a juror made representations about his belief as to the guilt of the defendants. In the present case, however, there is no evidence that the juror did anything other than comment, more or less to himself, about the trial and what had transpired that day. We are satisfied that Carmody is of no assistance to defendant. Additionally, unlike the facts in Hartley, 656 A.2d at 959-60, there was no unauthorized view by the juror in this case. In the case at bar, the juror who viewed the crime scene did so from the vantage point of his bus, while en route to his home. There is no evidence that the juror went to the area or otherwise drove past the location to view the crime scene. The trial justice was satisfied that the comments the juror made were not prejudicial, and he excused him. [12] Further, defense counsel acquiesced to the cautionary charge the trial justice gave to the jury, thereby waiving any objection on appeal. See State v. Snell, 892 A.2d 108, 123 (R.I. 2006) (because defendant failed to object to jury instructions, his allegation of error was waived); State v. Lynch, 854 A.2d 1022, 1034 (R.I.2004) (citing well settled principle that `failure to object to a jury instruction precludes review of the instruction on appeal'); see also United States v. Cormier, 468 F.3d 63, 74 (1st Cir.2006) (The fact that [defendant] declined the court's offer of an additional instruction is also indicative of the lack of prejudice.).