Opinion ID: 1111241
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: failure to sequester jury

Text: Uniform Criminal Rule 5.07 states: In all other criminal cases, the jury may be sequestered upon request of either the defendant or the state made at least 48 hours in advance of trial. The trial judge may, in the exercise of sound judicial discretion, either grant or refuse the request to sequester the jury. In the absence of a request, the trial judge may, on his own initiative, sequester a jury at any stage of a trial. [Emphasis added] Trial in this case began January 21, 1986. The motion to sequester was filed January 20, the day previous. Whittington therefore waived his right to have the jury sequestered. Griffin v. State, 492 So.2d 587 (Miss. 1986). We do urge circuit judges in criminal cases of this magnitude to sequester the jury, however.