Opinion ID: 1840075
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Was a juror erroneously allowed to sit?

Text: The fifth allegation of error relates to the trial court's decision to allow a juror who came forward to report a contact between Richards and a friend of the juror's husband to continue to serve. The contact in this case was a conversation between the juror's husband and a friend who owns a mortuary. The friend mentioned to the husband that he had received a call from a Leonard Richards, who stated he expected to die soon. The husband, in turn, reported the conversation to the juror, who brought it to the attention of the court. The court examined the juror in camera, but Richards alleged that the juror was obviously prejudiced  she thinks I'm going to kill myself  and requested voir dire. The court allowed the questioning and the juror indicated she spoke to the court because she thought the court ought to know, in case you [Richards] were suicidal or something. She also indicated that she had no way to prevent this conduct, that her husband simply mentioned the conversation out of the blue. The court asked the juror if she felt that her ability to be fair had been compromised, to which the juror responded that it had not. The court heard argument from both Richards and the prosecutor and ruled that it was convinced the juror could remain impartial. Private communications with a juror sitting on a criminal case about the pending matter are presumptively prejudicial, Remmer v. United States, 347 U.S. 227, 229, 74 S.Ct. 450, 451, 98 L.Ed. 654 (1954), and it is misconduct for a juror to initiate such contact. State v. Landro, 504 N.W.2d 741, 745 (Minn.1993). When confronted with the possibility of some outside influence on the jury, regardless of its source, the trial court must inquire into its effect. See State v. Cox, 322 N.W.2d 555, 558 (Minn.1982). The presumption of prejudice to the defendant is not conclusive; rather, the government bears the heavy burden of establishing that the contact involving the juror was harmless. Remmer, 347 U.S. at 229, 74 S.Ct. at 451. The test for whether a juror can continue to be impartial is whether he or she can lay aside his impression or opinion and render a verdict based on the evidence presented in court. State v. Andrews, 282 Minn. 386, 394, 165 N.W.2d 528, 534 (Minn. 1969). When reviewing the trial court's decision to replace the juror or not, this court must consider the nature and source of the prejudicial material, the number of jurors exposed to it, the weight of the evidence, and the likelihood that curative measures taken were effective. Cox, 322 N.W.2d at 559. Because the decision whether the affected juror may continue to sit involves determinations of credibility and demeanor, which are best left to the trial court, this court affords the trial court's decision significant deference. State v. Logan, 535 N.W.2d 320, 323 (Minn.1995). Richards contended at trial and before this court that this contact might have had a prejudicial effect on the outcome of his case and argues, therefore, that the trial court's decision to allow the juror to continue with the trial was mistaken. The trial court, however, followed the procedure outlined in the prior cases of this court and made a finding as to the juror's ability to continue to be impartial. The trial court was in the best position to make necessary findings regarding the juror's ability to continue to sit. In addition, Richards was afforded an opportunity to elicit testimony from the juror regarding any damage to her impartiality. This contact was a peripheral matter, not one directly implicating the question of guilt or innocence. Moreover, the juror demonstrated considerable maturity as well as a serious commitment to her oath of impartiality by reporting to the court an accidental and minimal contact, such as this one. We find no evidence of prejudice and believe the trial court's curative measures were proper. Accordingly, the trial judge's decision was, in our view, not an abuse of discretion and, thus, we decline to disturb it.