Opinion ID: 1821861
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: did the trial court err in dismissing juror catherine henry?

Text: ¶ 8. The trial court has sound discretion to remove jurors from the jury. King v. State, 784 So.2d 884, 887; Vaughn v. State, 712 So.2d 721, 724 (Miss.1998); Shaw v. State, 540 So.2d 26, 28 (Miss. 1989). The removal of a juror will not be disturbed unless there is an abuse of discretion. Vaughn, 712 So.2d at 724. Furthermore, the defendant must show actual prejudice resulting from the dismissal and substitution of the juror. Id. at 725. ¶ 9. On the morning of the second day of trial, the judge was informed by his deputy circuit clerk that one of the jurors, Catherine Henry, was seen conversing with members of Mills's family out in the lobby. Henry disregarded specific instructions given by the trial judge to not converse with anyone. Henry was called to the stand, and she admitted conversing with some people in the lobby. She stated that those people merely asked her if she was on the jury, and she responded affirmatively. The deputy clerk was also called to the stand. She stated that she was unable to state the nature of the conversation, but she did confirm that Henry conversed with people sitting in the lobby, believed to be Mills's family members. ¶ 10. Mills argues that since there was no evidence that Henry could contaminate the jury, she should not have been dismissed. However, out of prudence and precaution, the trial judge used his discretion in dismissing Henry from the jury. This Court finds no error in the judge's decision to dismiss Henry. Furthermore, Mills failed to show any prejudice as a result of Henry's dismissal. This issue is without merit.