Opinion ID: 1711877
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: separation of jury

Text: Bao contends that the court should have declared a mistrial due to the separation of members of the jury upon one juror's hospitalization. Neb.Rev.Stat. § 29-2022 (Reissue 1995) provides: When a case is finally submitted to the jury, they must be kept together in some convenient place, under the charge of an officer, until they agree upon a verdict or are discharged by the court.... If the jury are permitted to separate during the trial, they shall be admonished by the court that it is their duty not to converse with or suffer themselves to be addressed by any other person on the subject of the trial, nor to listen to any conversation on the subject; and it is their duty not to form or express an opinion thereon until the cause is finally submitted to them. We have held that under § 29-2022, after submission of a criminal case to the jury, the defendant has the right to have the jury kept together until the jury agrees upon a verdict or is discharged by the court. State v. Robbins, 205 Neb. 226, 287 N.W.2d 55 (1980). We have also stated that this right may be waived only by specific agreement or consent of counsel for the parties. Id. In the absence of express agreement or consent by the defendant, a failure to comply with § 29-2022 by permitting the jurors to separate after submission of the case is erroneous, creates a rebuttable presumption of prejudice, and places the burden upon the prosecution to show that no injury resulted. Id. In Robbins, we explained that § 29-2022 is intended to prevent improper contacts or communication with or by the jurors after submission of a criminal case. Consequently, the issue is whether there was improper contact or communication with or by the jurors during separation which resulted in prejudice to the defendant. Id. Here, when the injured juror was hospitalized, the remainder of the jury was kept sequestered and was instructed not to deliberate, discuss, or form any opinions about the case. When the injured juror returned, the court, without objection from the parties, questioned the juror regarding whether she had any contacts or communications with people outside of the jury about the case. The juror answered that she did not. The juror further indicated her ability to continue deliberating despite her injury. Under these circumstances, we conclude that the presumption of prejudice has been rebutted. Accordingly, we conclude that the court did not abuse its discretion in overruling Bao's motion for a mistrial.