Opinion ID: 1860641
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: the amount of time of jury deliberation

Text: ¶ 28. Duncan also argues that the jury did not deliberate and must have been influenced by emotional factors because it was out less than fifteen minutes before coming to a decision. However, she offered no authority in support of this argument. Consequently, this issue is not properly before us. See Gerrard, 619 So.2d at 216; R.C. Petroleum, 555 So.2d at 1023. Duncan has an affirmative duty to address the issues she raises and to give authoritative support for her position. Id. Failure to do so frees us from addressing the issue. ¶ 29. Notwithstanding this, our case law is well settled that short deliberations do not automatically evidence bias or prejudice. See Gray v. State, 728 So.2d 36 (Miss.1998) (upholding a seven minute jury verdict); Smith v. State, 569 So.2d 1203 (Miss.1990) (upholding a three minute jury verdict); and Johnson v. State, 252 So.2d 221 (Miss.1971) (upholding ten minute jury verdict). We have held that [t]here is no yardstick of time which a jury should use before reaching a verdict. Johnson, 252 So.2d at 224. Also, we have developed no formula for calculating the length jury deliberations should last. Smith, 569 So.2d at 1204. For these reasons, we find no error.